Obituary of Pansy Inez Hinkle

Pansy Hinkle of Buckhannon, WV, died on December 30, 2023, at the West Virginia Caring Hospice Facility in Elkins, WV. She was one week short of being 102 years old. Pansy was the third of four children born to Harley Van Camp Tenney and Stacie Snyder Tenney. Her siblings, also deceased, were Requa Tenney of Buckhannon, June Wright of Port Angeles, WA, and Laurel Flynn of Stone Mountain, GA. Pansy was born in Upshur County, WV, attended local schools, took a few hours at WV Wesleyan College, and graduated from Bowling Green Business College in Kentucky. She was married to Lonnie J. Hinkle, whom the Death Angel took from her after 57 years. Lonnie and Pansy had two daughters who survive: Carol Hinkle of Buckhannon, and Karen Plautz of Buckhannon and Henderson, NV. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Jeremy McGowan (Edith) of Las Vegas, NV; Merrily Cheek of Chapel Hill, NC; Kathryn Hinkle of Buckhannon; Krista Schuenman (Spencer) of Lindon, UT; Regan Peterson (Joddy) of Henderson, NV; Paige Nicols of Henderson, NV; Lance Plautz of Henderson, NV; and Arley Downs (Brandon) of Kaufman, TX. One infant grandchild Kerry Jo Plautz predeceased her. Pansy had 24 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren. Pansy began her working career as secretary to the Superintendent of Upshur County Schools. As the family residence changed, she held responsible positions in several states, retiring from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, where she was assistant to the Dean. She joined Sand Run Baptist Church at an early age, but otherwise was not a joiner. She looked on her family as her closest friends and the source of her social life. Pansy held a deep appreciation for her good neighbors, doctors, teachers and all other honest work persons, and said she felt a kinship with them. There will be a private family committal service, with burial in the Buckhannon Memorial Park cemetery in Buckhannon. A celebration of life will be held in the spring for Pansy and Lonnie.