Charles Ray "Chuck" Hinman

1922 - 2011

Charles Ray "Chuck" Hinman, long-time resident of Bartlesville, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday December 15, 2011
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, in the New Harmony Baptist Church with Rev. Tom Cox and Rev. Charles McCarthey officiating. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Funeral arrangements and entombment are under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.
Chuck was one of three siblings born to Ina Merle (Mouser) and Arley Ray Hinman in rural Liberty, Nebraska, on January 19, 1922 on the family farm during the Great Depression with his brother Robert "Bob" and his sister Joy Ann "Jody". Chuck and his siblings attended New Hope Country School in Liberty while maintaining the family farm with their parents during difficult times. Chuck graduated Liberty High School in 1939 and attended Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. After receiving his teaching certificate, he returned home, teaching in a one-room school located near the family farm.
Beginning in 1942, Chuck served honorably for 41 months during World War II as a cryptographer with the 871st Signal Corps, a detachment of the 20th Air Force in Guam, Saipan and Tinian. Upon completing his service commitment, he attended college at the University of Nebraska, completing a business degree in 1948. He then took a job with Montgomery Wards in Monroe, Louisiana, and later came to Bartlesville in 1951 as a manager-in-training in the shoe sales department. He got his "big break" in his professional career when he accepted a job with Phillips Petroleum Company in the lease-rentals department, working there 34 years in Bartlesville and Houston, Texas, until retiring in 1987.
After retirement, chuck devoted his life to his wife of over 50 years, Connie, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Chuck and Connie met while working at Phillips, and they were married in 1952 in the chapel of Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa. They became members of First United Methodist Church in Bartlesville and later East Cross Methodist Church, where Chuck served as the organist. They later joined New Harmony Baptist Church, where they were members for decades, both with grateful service to the Lord as Sunday school teachers and Chuck as church organist and pianist. Chuck was also a past member of Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston, and Eastern Heights Baptist Church, Bartlesville. Chuck and Connie raised two children in Bartlesville, son James Paul and daughter Mary Ann.
Chuck's passion for music was well known by many, in the Bartlesville area and across the country. Chuck began his musical adventures at a young age, performing Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody # 2" for state contest in Nebraska during his high school years: he wowed the judges, delighted his family with his skill and was awarded the "above superior" mark. Over the years, Chuck accompanied many soloists and musicians and performed music for numerous weddings, funerals and public events. Chuck was a member of the Contemporary Organ Guild of Bartlesville and a past member of the Tulsa Theatre Organ Society (now named the Sooner State Chapter of American Theatre Organ Society, ATOS). During his career with Phillips, Chuck served as the keyboardist for the Philtones, performing locally and across the country. His piano performances with the Philtones, most notably, included his famous "egg-a-labara" presentation.
A passionate caregiver, accomplished musician, loving father, faithful friend of many and devoted servant of his Lord, Chuck was also known as a writer. In his time as a resident of Tallgrass Estates in Bartlesville, he wrote stories fresh from his memory of times past and present. His works were published in the Imperuvians Writing Club at Peru State College, Nebraska, and in an online magazine, http://columbiamagazine.com/. His first book, It's Just Me, was published in 2005 with the help of his dear friends Joy (Garland) Peterson of Asheville, North Carolina, Alsie Mae Stapleton and Orva Lee Brown of Bartlesville and his son Paul of Tulsa. Chuck also submitted weekly stories to The Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, to the delight of many readers.
Chuck is survived by his son, James Paul Hinman of Tulsa; granddaughter Kasi (DeLaPorte) Zieminski and husband Craig of Dallas, Texas; Larry DeLaPorte of Bartlesville; brother-in-law Jack English of Lincoln, Nebraska; a niece Nancy York, nephew Dick Hinman and wife Sherry, all of Fairbury, Nebraska; nieces Janet English, Pam Vercellino and husband Joe, Jackie Mahlman and husband Dale, nephew Paul English, all of Lincoln, Nebraska; a niece LuAnn Outhet and husband Steve of Liberty, Nebraska; a nephew Pat English and wife Bonnie of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; his "California Cousin" Lois Keller of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and many great nieces and nephews.
Preceding his passing are his wife Connie (Pickett) Hinman, his parents Arley and Ina Merle, an aunt, Grace (Hinman) Allington, his brother Bob Hinman, sister Joy English, sister-in-law Lindy (Lundine) Hinman, an aunt and uncle, Norma and Floren Mouser, and his daughter Mary Ann DeLaPorte of Bartlesville.
The family wishes to thank Shanadoa Home Health of Bartlesville, Visiting Angels of Green Country, the staff at Heritage Villa, Bartlesville, and Rivercross Hospice, Bartlesville, for their compassionate and faithful care giving for Chuck during his last days here with us.
At Chuck's request, contributions in his memory can be made to: New Harmony Baptist Church, 22341 N. 4015 Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006-0478.