Robert H. Hinkley Jr.

Apr. 28, 1934 - Jan. 21, 2016

Date of Service: Jan. 29, 2016

Robert H. Hinkley Jr.

BURLEY - Robert H. Hinkley Jr., 81, of Meridian, Idaho, and formerly of Burley, died of pneumonia, January 21, 2016, at the St. Luke’s Meridian Medical Center, with his devoted wife by his side.

Robert was born in Burley, Idaho, April 28, 1934, to Robert and Ruby Hinkley. He attended the Miller and Southwest grade schools through the fourth grade, and the family then moved to Eden, Idaho, where Robert’s father bought one of only two grocery stores in town. The store also offered a snack bar, gas station, and car repair station; and he and his sister worked there every day after school. They also made many trips to the Hunt concentration camp, helping their father deliver groceries to the Japanese inmates.

The family moved to Twin Falls in 1948, and Robert graduated from the Twin Falls High School in 1952. Robert worked at the Twin Falls Bank & Trust for two years. He then volunteered to serve his country by joining the United States Air Force. Robert’s unit was sent to Taiwan, and while stationed there his sister began to send him the “Improvement Era” magazine. Through personal study, he became interested in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He decided to join the church and be baptized, but there were no members of the church on the island at the time. Finally, a man named Stanley Simiskey arrived on the island and baptized him in the Tam Sui River in 1956. Robert became the first person in Taiwan to become baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

After his honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, Robert met Virginia Wood. They were married and had two children, Mark and Melinda. They were later divorced.

Robert worked as a financial manager at the Del Monte plant in Burley and then in the office of the Minidoka Memorial Hospital. He met Barbara Garrard and they were married in 1965 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Robert attended Idaho State University and received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He then taught the fifth grade in the Minidoka School District.

Robert was a very dedicated teacher. All of the chalk boards in his classroom were filled with American history and historical events. He played semi-classical music in the classroom and taught his students to play chess. He was a loving advocate for lonely or bullied students and they always knew that Mr. Hinkley was their friend.

Robert had a love for classical music from the time he was a young man. He had a vast music collection of the world’s famous operas and he and Barbara would spend “date nights” with friends listening to their favorite operas.

Robert also became interested in stamp collecting when he was in high school. He met many interesting people and enjoyed all the history that this hobby opened up to him.

Robert loved his family, God, and his church. He served in many church callings through the years, but his favorite calling was teaching about God to all ages.

Robert was preceded in his death by his parents; and one grandson, Dylan Hansen.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, to whom he was married for 51 years; his sister, Terry Whitehead of Twin Falls; his children, Mark (Karen) Long of West Valley Utah, Melinda (Kendale) Gates of West Valley, Utah, Laura (Doug) Paul of Oklahoma City, Okla., Jill (Todd) Prien of Twin Falls, Lisa (Clint) Hansen of Meridian, and Aaron (Sara) Hinkley of Pahoa, Hawaii; also survived by 25 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at the Meridian West Stake Center, 1985 N. Black Cat Rd., in Meridian, where friends and family may call from 10 until 10:45 a.m.

The interment service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Pleasant View Cemetery, 1645 E. 16th St., in Burley.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.