Kathleen M. Hinkel

Kathleen M. Hinkel, 99, resident of Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, Lewisburg, passed away May 29, 2019.

She was born on April 13, 1920, in Roaring Spring (Blair County), a daughter of Elvin E. and Ruth M. (Stephens) Myers.

Kathleen was a 1937 graduate of Liberty High School, Bethlehem and a 1939 graduate of Bethlehem Business School.  She was employed as a secretary to the superintendent of Allentown State Hospital.

In 1945 she married Clayton H. Hinkel and moved to Bloomsburg, where she was active at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher for 35 years. Kathleen spent much of her time volunteering in many community organizations including 4-H, AARP, faculty wives, the public library and mental health groups.

In 1990, Kathleen and her husband retired to Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, Lewisburg.  Clayton died in 1995, a few months short of their 50th anniversary. Kathleen and Clayton were fond of traveling. They enjoyed Elder hostels, visiting all fifty states and also numerous international countries as part of tours.

In retirement, Kathleen remained an active volunteer including writing the Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village monthly newsletter for fifteen years.  All her life, she had a special interest in collecting books and articles about the origin of names, places, events and ethnic cultures.

At the age of ninety, she put her keen mind and passion to use when she began writing a regular column entitled “Now You Know” for the Standard Journal. By the time she was 95, she had written more than 100 columns.

Kathleen was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Lewisburg and maintained her membership at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Bloomsburg.

Surviving are one son, Lee (Karen) Hinkel, of Sheridan, WY; one daughter, Anne (Bruce) Rohrbach, of State College; two grandsons, John Hinkel and Aaron Rohrbach.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by sister, Margery C. Wolfe, Orange City, FL; brother George E. Myers, Allentown; and a grandson, David L. Hinkel, Anchorage, AK.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family at Forks Cemetery, Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the BVLV Endowment Fund, 189 E. Tressler Blvd. Lewisburg; or to a public library of your choice.

The family is being assisted by Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. LouisStreets, Lewisburg.

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