Doug Tinkle, a 24-year veteran of the United States Air Force, passed away on Tuesday, 2/22/22 at 2:00 p.m. in his home. He was born Charles Douglas Tinkle on Baumholder Army Base in Hahn, Germany on July 22, 1955, and was the son of the late John Henry Tinkle and the late Shirley Eileen Tinkle. Doug is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Barry and Gwen Tinkle, and J.B. and Chris Tinkle; and a sister and brother-in-law, Star Darling and Frank Valensi. He leaves behind three children: daughters Sara Joy Tinkle and Megan Renee Tinkle, and a son and daughter-in-law Zachary and Sarah Tinkle. He has one precious grandson, Henry David Tinkle, and a granddaughter due in April. He is also survived by his ex-wife and good friend, Tina Jennings.
Doug graduated from Winchester Community High School in Indiana in 1973 and enlisted in the Air Force where he spent 24 years. As an avionics instrument technician, he was stationed in New York, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, North Dakota, Hawaii, and South Carolina as well as internationally in Japan and Thailand, with assignments in Italy and Saudi Arabia. Fixing airplanes was his passion. He was the go-to guy when nobody else could figure out what was wrong with an airplane. After he retired from the Air Force in 1997, he and his family relocated to Georgia where he worked for Lockheed Martin in Marietta as a technical support engineer in the F/A-22 program for the next 11 years.
Doug was quiet, humble, extremely funny, very smart, and always kind. He was a creator, inventor, natural teacher, and dog whisperer. He could look at any object or system and figure out a way to fix it, make it safer, or improve it, and taught his children this thought process. He taught them how to look at something, take it apart, figure it out, and make it better. He taught them how to find the answers to their own questions. He taught them the importance of using the right tool for the job, then provided that perfect tool, or three of them.
Doug enjoyed fishing, listening to music of the 60s and 70s, eating seafood, riding his motorcycle, and working on projects in his garage. He was known for his love of tools, multiples of useful gadgets including dozens of flashlights, measuring tapes, and pocket knives. He acquired so many hand tools, power tools, and other shop equipment that his grandson, Henry, designated the Home Depot in his play town as “where Grandpa Tinkle lives.”
He had a keen sense of humor that helped him and his family through his multiple health challenges over the past two decades. He could find humor in every situation, shared it generously, and passed it down to his children as a precious gift.
A military memorial service for Master Sergeant Doug Tinkle will be held at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia on Monday, April 4, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. Please arrive at least 20 minutes early. The service will begin at exactly 12:30, last precisely 20 minutes, and may include a couple of Doug’s unique and practical lessons for you to remember and share.
Georgia Funeral Care and Cremation Service are in charge of the arrangements for Doug Tinkle. To leave a memory or message to the family, please visit https://www.georgiafuneralcare.com/
