Patricia Hinkle

Patricia A Hinkle was a caring, fun-loving mother and grandmother, who kept her hands busy in the day-to-day activities of work and family. Setting aside her own vocation after a time, she helped her children advance their studies and careers. She spent time with her grandchildren and made time for her friends. Her energy for life was apparent in the myriad of ways Patricia let her loved ones know that they all held first place in her heart.

Patricia was born in Romeo, Michigan on November 4, 1935, at a challenging time in US history. Americans were enduring economic turmoil at home, and political unrest in Europe eventually led to the Second World War. Shortly after her birth, Patricia was adopted by Willliam and Thelma, who had no children of their own.

Patricia grew up in Redford, Michigan near Detroit, where her father was a Detroit city police officer. Sadly, when Patricia was 18, her mother passed away from breast cancer. During her illness, she was determined to hold on long enough to see Patricia graduate from Redford High School, and she did. Amid the hardship, Patricia lived a full life with her family and friends. She joined Eastern Star at a young age and made some very close, lifelong friends. She enjoyed horseback riding, visiting the family farm in Romeo to pick fruit, and taking leisurely rides with her dad in his convertible along Outer Drive, which wound them through beautiful subdivisions, school sites and park areas of Detroit. She also liked making jewelry, but little did she know when she starting taking a jewelry-making class, that her interest would lead to romance.

Patricia met Duane Hinkle in the dead of winter. Her mother had come to pick her up from class, when their car had a flat tire. Fortunately, Duane was there to help change the tire and get them on their way, but not before he and Patricia had made a connection. The two started dating, but after a while, they broke it off. Eventually, Patricia called Duane in an attempt to rekindle the relationship, and it worked. They were married in 1957 at St. James Episcopal Church in Detroit, and they honeymooned in nearby Ypsilanti.

In her work life, Patricia trained as a legal secretary, but when her first child was born, she put her career on hold to become a fulltime homemaker for her four children: Douglas, Terry, David and Bruce. Patricia was a very invested parent—volunteering at the children’s elementary school library and on paper drives, serving on the PTA, taking kids to their concerts, leading Cub Scouts for her boys and helping the Girl Scouts when Terry was a member. For fun, the family went to apple orchards and the Detroit Race Course, where they lingered at the outer fences to watch the horses run. They traveled “up north” to Howell at Lake Chemung for vacations and to the grandparents for the holidays. Patricia’s children viewed her as a very fair mother who didn’t favor one child over the others. She was particularly even-handed when it came to presents at Christmas time; she wrote her gift list in shorthand so that none of them could read it. She also enjoyed late night games of Atari with Terry, often waking up the family with their laughter.

When she took time for herself, Patricia wanted no interruptions while she watched her daily soap operas. She was a fan of “Soap,” a spoof opera that aired in the late 1970s, and she liked to take in shows at Meadowbrook. She bowled in a league in which she was the secretary, typing all the scores without the benefit of a computer. Also keeping her hands busy were knitting needles. Patricia belonged to knitting club with women from Minock in Detroit. They met together twice a month, and once a year, they dressed up and went to a fine-dining restaurant for a Girls’ Night Out. Patricia allowed herself the occasional beer, but one thing that was always on her menu as laughter.

When Patricia became a grandmother, she couldn’t have been happier. As she had for her children, Patricia made clothes for her grandchildren; christening gown, sweaters and more. Always proud of her children and wanting them to succeed, she offered to watch the grandkids when their parents were at work or going to college. Her grandchildren were the pride of her life, she was so proud of each and everyone of them. They brought her so much joy and love.

Patricia’s cherished grandchildren and children will miss her dearly even as they remember how much joy she brought to their lives.

Patricia A. Hinkle, age 77, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday April 1, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Duane, in 2006. She is survived by her loving children Douglas (Veronica), Terry (Robert) Ramsay, David (Melissa), and Bruce (Pamela). Beloved grandmother of Chelsey, Jordan, Sarah, Tryn, Christine, and Devin. Cherished sister of Nancy (Harold) Dolenga. Family will receive friends Thursday 5-9pm and Friday 2-9pm at the Neely-Turowski Life Story Funeral Home 30200 Five Mile (btn Merriman and Middlebelt). Funeral Saturday 10:30am at the funeral home. Interment Acacia Park cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society and or the South Lyon Special Stars Special Olympics Team. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.neely-turowski.com.