Thomas Vernon Hinkle of Hendersonville, North Carolina passed away on July 31, 2023 at the age of 81 due to recent health complications. Thomas “Tom” Hinkle grew up in Bloomington, Indiana and raised his family in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from the Bloomington High School in 1960, he utilized his skills and became the first family member to graduate from college while completing his degree in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University in 1964.
His professional career afforded him the opportunity to work on world-changing projects such as the Space Shuttle, F-15 Eagle, and other international aeronautical projects with the McDonnell Douglas and Boeing Corporations that included work assignments in England, California, and Texas. Tom was always able to strike a balance between work projects and family life by being a willing volunteer for his two sons’ Boy Scout Troop. He was always on standby to help organize and participate in fundraisers and be a parental chaperone for Troop campouts and sporting events.
Tom is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marceta Binkley-Hinkle of Bloomington, Indiana; son David Hinkle, daughter-in-law Yoko Suzuki-Hinkle and grandson Masato Hinkle; son Roger Hinkle, daughter-in-law Cathlena Sutter-Hinkle and grandchildren Ryan Hinkle, Cody Hinkle, Rini Hinkle. Tom is also survived by his sister Linda Hinkle-Pelley and brother-in-law Don Pelley, nephew Drew Pelley and niece Amy Pelley.
After his retirement, Tom and Marceta moved to Hendersonville, NC in 2001 to be closer to family and be amidst the beauty of the Smokey Mountains where he recollected his favorite childhood family vacations to Gatlinburg, TN. In his later years, Tom was an avid bridge player, attended the annual Apple Festival, enjoyed visiting with family, reading journals, listening to classical music and continuing his education by taking classes at the local community college.
Taking advantage of his relocation to the mountains, Tom enjoyed sitting in his screened-in back porch drinking his morning coffees and sipping his wine or bourbon in the evening while waiting for the wildlife such as bears, deer, and turkeys to scurry across his backyard. Being an original Hoosier, he frequently showcased his Midwestern upbringing by instilling the Hinkle values to his two sons and others by helping neighbors with yard work and odd jobs that needed to be done around their homes.