The name Roder has several alternative spellings -- most notably Roeder and Rader. The name means "wheel maker." Most Roders seem to originate in Germany, many from what is known as the Hessen region.


Martha Margaretha Roder
Born about 1660 - 1680 in Germany
Died in Erfurt, Germany.

Maria Martha Louisa von Gerstenberg
Born about 1680 - 1705 in Germany, daughter of Franz Adolf von Gerstenberg.

Sigismund Ignatius Wincopp
Born 1733 in Erfurt, Germany, son of Wilhelm Heinrich Wincop and Maria Martha Louisa von Gerstenberg.
Married Maria Christina Schroeder on November 27, 1755 in Erfurt, Germany.
Legal advisor in Erfurt, Germany. Father of five children.
Died 1781 in Erfurt, Germany.

Peter Adolf Winkopp
Born January 17, 1759 in Erfurt, Germany, son of Sigismund Ignatius Wincopp and Maria Christina Schroeder
Married Barbara Schmitt after 1788.
Monk, bookseller, judge, writer, historian, philosopher; became a famous writer and philosopher. Father of one child.
Died October 26, 1813 in Aschaffenburg, Germany.

Adolf Winkopp
Born 1802 in Aschaffenburg, Germany, son of Peter Adolf Winkopp and Barbara Schmitt.
Married Maria Magdalena Schwab on March 8, 1835 in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany; she died in 1838 at age 21. Married Maria Anna Elisabeth Schreck on February 4, 1839; she died. Married Maria Susannah Schreck (Maria Anna Elisabeth's sister) on April 30, 1841.
Attorney in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany.
Father of eight children.
Died January 17, 1865 in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Franz Josef Alfred Winkopp
Born February 3, 1846 in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany, son of Adolf Winkopp and Maria Susannah Schreck.
Emigrated to USA in 1868.
Married Anna Blumlein about 1868 in New York; she died in June 1885 in New York at age 36.
Married Caroline Blumlein about 1886 in New York; Caroline was the sister of Anna Blumlein, his first wife.
Restaurant and bar proprietor, including Hofbrau Haus in New York. Father of 15 children - 7 died at childbirth or as children. Walter Winkopp was the eleventh child
Died January 18, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York.

Walter Winkopp
Born August 8, 1893 in Brooklyn, New York, son of Franz Josef Alfred Winkopp and Caroline Blumlein.
Married Helen May "Maude" Catoggio on February 25, 1918 in New York; he was 24 and she was 17. He met her when she auditioned as a dancer for a show that he was producing. She died December 13, 1920.
Married Virginia Braxton Garland in 1925 in New York or Nebraska; they were divorced in 1932.
Father of one son with Helen May "Maude" Catoggio: Walter Michael Windsor.
Father of one son with Virginia Braxton Garland: Howard Garland Winkopp.
Virginia remarried, and Alec Jean Sartin adopted Howard, and he became known as Howard Garland Sartin.
Theatrical producer, choreographer, dancer, pet store owner.
Died July 8, 1978 in Orlando, Florida.

Walter Winkopp, Jr. now known as Walter Michael Windsor
Born September 22, 1918 in New York, New York, son of Walter Winkopp and Helen May "Maude" Catoggio.
Born Walter Winkopp (and called "Junior" but not legally named Jr.), but his father used "Walter Windsor" as his stage name, and people called little Walter "Walter Windsor, Jr."
Name legally changed to Walter Michael Windsor on January 2, 1946 in Richmond, Virginia.
Married Mary Garnett Johnson on November 29, 1947 in Danville, Virginia. He hired her as receptionist at WDVA Radio; they dated for 14 consecutive nights, and then he proposed, and she accepted. Mary died December 23, 1977 from misdiagnosed breast cancer.
Broadcasting pioneer - 55 years in radio and television, television station manager/executive for 35 years, singer, actor, songwriter, announcer, sportscaster, TV host, music historian, theatre owner.
Father of four children.
Died February 29, 2008 in Duluth, Georgia.

Walter Michael Windsor's children:

William Michael Windsor -- bill@billwindsor.com
Born October 2, 1948 in Columbus, Georgia.
Married Barbara Jane Gray on June 19, 1971 in Dallas, Texas.
Serial entrepreneur, magazine publisher, trade show producer, Internet businesses.
Father of two children - Brittany and Ryan.

Anthony Beck Windsor
Born January 26, 1950 in Columbus, Georgia.
Not yet married as of April 2008.
Vice-President of travel business, TV anchorman and news director.

Wendy May Windsor Harper
Born September 21, 1953 in Columbus, Georgia.
Married Harvey Howard Harper, III on December 5, 1987 in Winter Park, Florida.
Homemaker, political operative, realtor, child therapist, family genealogist.
Mother of one son, Nicholas Andrew Harper; stepmother of two children - Chip and Amber.

Martha Ann Windsor
Born October 27, 1958 in Fort Smith Arkansas.
Married and divorced.
Marketing manager, web designer.
Mother of one daughter - Stephanie Shultz (adopted at birth).