William Allen VanWinkle
January 26, 1948 ~ April 4, 2026
Allen VanWinkle, 78, of St. Augustine, Florida, passed away on April 4, 2026, surrounded by his loved ones.
Allen was born on January 26, 1948, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Bill and Betty VanWinkle. He grew up with strong Midwestern values and went on to build a life defined by dedication, leadership, and deep love for his family. He will be remembered for his unique sense of humor, strong work ethic, unwavering loyalty, and a stubborn streak that those who loved him knew well. Allen lived with conviction, cared deeply for the people in his life, and left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Allen had a distinguished 17-year career in basketball coaching, reflecting both his passion for the game and his gift for leadership. He served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly Pomona and West Texas State before becoming head coach at Jackson Community College and later at Southern Illinois University. He devoted years to mentoring young athletes and made a lasting impact on the many players and colleagues whose lives he influenced.
Following his coaching career, Allen began a second chapter of service as Association Manager at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra, where he worked for 30 years. In that role, he became a respected and familiar presence, known for his dedication, professionalism, and care for the community he served.
Above all, Allen treasured his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, and his greatest joy was found in the people he loved.
Allen is survived by his wife, Connie Underwood VanWinkle of Lafayette, Indiana; his children, Wendy (Mark) Diamond of Indianapolis, Indiana, Casey (Julie) VanWinkle of Carbondale, Illinois, and Holly (Nick) Schopp of Town and Country, Missouri; his brother, Steve (Cathy) VanWinkle of Crawfordsville, Indiana; his sister, Lanah (Dr. Larry) Madewell of Ravensdale, Washington; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, along with many other loving family members and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Betty VanWinkle, and his sisters, Linda Haney and Marybeth Atwood.
Celebrations of Allen’s life will be held in St. Augustine, Florida, and Lafayette, Indiana, with details to be announced at a later date.
Charitable contributions in Allen’s honor may be made to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.
Allen will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered for his leadership, humor, loyalty, and the many lives he touched.
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Connie, sending love, prayers, and hugs to you and your family. We both have many fond memories of Allen through the years, and know that he will be greatly missed.