Jerry Benton Hinesley

Jerry Benton Hinesley, 76, a resident of Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, passed away at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, at Grace Village Health Care.

He was born Nov. 10, 1945, at Drew Field Army Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. while his father was stationed there. A few months later his parents, Capt. Dale E. Hinesley and Gladys I. (Reddick) Hinesley, along with their children returned to Gas City, where his father had been a dentist before WWII. Jerry spent his childhood in Gas City along with his sisters, Marlene, Dixie, and Jayne.

During the Vietnam War Jerry was a Medical Specialist 6 in the Army National Guard of Indiana from 1966-1972 when he was honorably discharged. He later graduated from Manchester University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He began teaching Biology at Wawasee Middle School in Syracuse, and later spent some time as a Marine Biologist in Florida. He returned to Indiana to be closer to his mother since his father passed away.

Jerry retired in 2011 after 24 years in the Quality Assurance Department at Symmetry Medical an orthopedic company in Warsaw.

While there he met Tina Sult, who became his friend and companion for over 30 years and they shared their families. Her son, Will (Shelly) Mabee, Winona Lake; daughter, Tamara (Guy) Foster, South Fulton, Tenn., and their six granddaughters and nine great-grandchildren who loved their Papa Jerry very much. He will be dearly missed by his sisters: Marlene Thurman, Newman, Ga.; Dixie Mayer, Valparaiso; along with six nieces and nephews and their children.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Jayne and her husband Ron Burnstrum, brothers-in-law, Warren Thurman, Richard Mayer, and an infant nephew, James “Jimmy” Thurman.

During Jerry’s retirement he spent time researching his family’s history and authored a book of his “Family Heritage”. He was of Methodist faith, a member of the Gas City Historical Society, and he loved to be outdoors at the home he shared with Tina at Stanton, Lake in Leesburg.

Jerry enjoyed taking care of his yard, feeding the birds, and watching the critters, as he called them: chipmunks, rabbits, and squirrels who scampered around their deck and yard. He simply loved all animals. Over the years he had his share of cats but none like his favorite cat, Casey. When he died after 14 years, Jerry said “there would never be another Casey”.

Jerry’s life will be celebrated at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, and officiated by Chaplain Bryan Benjamin. A graveside service will follow at St. Peters Cemetery, Urbana. Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be directed to Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.