Howard Lule Van Winkle – Family Physician & Pathologist

Howard Lule Van Winkle was born about 1882 in Yonkers, New York. He was the second son of Elizabeth Walch and Owen Van Winkle. Their first son, Arthur H. who was born about 1878, died sometime after 1800 and probably before Howard had any recollection of him. Howard always stated that he was the oldest and never mentioned Arthur. Howard was orphaned by his parents not long after his sister Elizabeth's birth in 1892. He was around 10 years old. Elizabeth was adopted out; but Howard likely was raised by his maternal grandmother, Elisabeth Charnock Walch. In turn, he would take care of her for the remainder of her life.


Howard sold newspapers at the New York Central Railroad Station around Yonkers and at the age of 11 began saving his earnings for a medical education. After receiving his medical degree Howard worked as a pathologist for the New York City and State Departments of Public Health.

The 1910 US census shows Howard Van Winkle, age 27, a “medical doctor” living at 332 Scott Ave. in Glenolden, Pennsylvania, which is located near of Philadelphia. The household included his young wife Florence (Bailey), 22, who was also born in Yonkers; Florence’s 20-year-old sister, Frances Bailey; his 89-year-old grandmother, Elizabeth Walch; and his one year and five-month-old son, Howard Bailey Van Winkle.


During World War I Howard joined the Army and attained the rank of Major. He was stationed in Atlanta, Georgia where he also worked for the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in a laboratory section located at 120 Juniper Street. He is credited with discovering the cure for Psittacosis, sometimes called Parrot Disease. The disease can be transmitted from infected birds to humans, causing flulike symptoms. While in Atlanta, Howard and Florence lost their second child, Elizabeth, known as Beth.

After the war Howard moved the family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he would remain for the rest of his life and where some of his descendents still live. He initially worked as a pathologist at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids but later practiced anesthesiology, and eventually became a general practitioner. A third child, Florence Charnock Van Winkle, was born in 1920 in Cedar Rapids, but her mother would die just a few days after the birth.

Five years later, Howard married Josephine Krause, the sister of a surgeon friend with whom Howard and his family were living. Josephine and Howard had one child, Marjorie, who was born in 1925. After Josephine died in 1930, Howard married again, a nurse, but they had no children.

Howard's daughter Florence wrote this about him, "He was a very dear man, full of quick wit and humor as well as being compassionate towards his patients. Those were the days of physicians’ house calls; and he was ever so kind to elderly people.” She also added that he was an avid tennis player, loved classical music, and had many friends.

The photograph of Howard Van Winkle is courtesy of his daughter Florence Ramsey. The field research photo was taken from a New York state public-health journal sourced in Google books.