He was born on May 1, 1948, in Peru, to the late Lois Argyleen (Leedy) Hinkle. He was a graduate of Wabash High School. He then furthered his education with a Bachelor’s Degree from Manchester College and a Master Degree from the University of St. Francis.

He began teaching in 1970. He taught the last four years of Mentone High School and then moved to the junior high at Akron School. When the middle school was built, he began teaching for Tippecanoe Valley Middle School. He retired from full time teaching in 2014. He then taught part-time for the middle school and high school for three years. During that time, he coached numerous sports which included football, softball, and girls’ and boys’ basketball.

He was a big sports fan and was an avid Atlanta Braves and Chicago Bears fan. He loved to fish, especially on the river. He was known to drive blue convertible Ford Mustangs and Ford F-150’s.

School was his life. His students and fellow teachers meant the world to him. He always had a servant’s heart and never wanted any recognition.

Friends may gather from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, in the Tippecanoe Valley Middle School Gymnasium with a Celebration of Mr. Hinkle’s Life at 4 p.m. with Rev. Phil Pratt officiating. Masks will be required for all who are in attendance and by request, please bring your Akron and Valley Hinkle stocking caps in honor of him.

A private interment will take place in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Mexico, Indiana, next to his mother.

Donations can be made in Mr. Hinkle’s memory to the Tippecanoe Valley Angler’s Club with checks to Tippecanoe Valley High School with Angler’s Club in the memo line or to the Robert E. Hinkle Education-Technical Memorial Scholarship held at the North Indiana Community Foundation.