Kenneth M Hinkle

Kenneth Melvin Hinkle was born November 26, 1938, to Luther and Esther Hinkle in Twelve Mile, Madison County, Missouri. He grew up on a small farm in Missouri and was passionate about guitar, reading, science, and engineering from an early age. He married the love of his life, Nina McCormack, the daughter of one of his favorite high school teachers, on January 21, 1961. He graduated with an Electrical Engineering Degree from Rolla School of Mines later that year. He and Nina enjoyed traveling in the Midwest while Ken worked for 3 years as a field engineer for the Federal Aviation Administration. After the birth of their daughter, Teresa, Ken began his 35-year career working for NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center. The family relocated to Madison, Alabama where daughter, Renee, was born. In addition to working, Ken served many roles in the community and his local churches, First Baptist and Trinity Baptist in Madison. During retirement, Ken and Nina enjoyed traveling to the beach and the mountains and visiting with their daughters and families: Jim and Teresa Sanders (Golden, CO) and triplets Mitchell (Sunnyvale, CA), Katie (San Diego, CA), and Christie (Golden, CO) Sanders, and Jim and Renee Barrett, grandson Jimmy Barrett and granddaughter Lindsey Barrett (Madison, AL). Ken was a great husband, father, grandfather, friend, and role model who, toward the end of his life, fought through many health issues to enjoy family and friends along with guitar playing, music, teaching, and genealogy research. He went home to heaven suddenly, but peacefully, at Huntsville Hospital on Sunday August 8, 2021. We will miss him very much.

Visitation for family and friends is scheduled for noon Friday August 13, 2021 at Trinity Baptist Church, 1088 Hughes Rd, Madison, AL 35758. The Funeral Service will follow at 1 pm.