Dr. John F. Sinnett

Dr. John F. Sinnett
NEWTON -- Dr. Sinnett, 87, local retired physician, died Sunday, August 22, 2004 at his residence on Long Drive, Newton. Born June 7, 1917 in Cannelton, WV, he was the son of the late Starling Loving Sinnett and Annie Miller Sinnett.
Dr. Sinnett graduated from Marshall University and earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. After completing his internship and residency at the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Hospital in Huntington, WV, he entered the U.S. Army, served during World War II, and helped establish the first department of Physical Medicine at the V.A. Hospital in Fayetteville, NC. He was released from active duty as a captain in the Medical Corps in 1948.
Dr. Sinnett began his first private practice in Welch and Maybeury, WV, relocating to Newton, where he practiced general and industrial medicine for 47 years. He served as chief of staff of Catawba Hospital, Inc. its final year of operation. Dr. Sinnett was a member of the staff of Catawba Memorial Hospital.
He was a member of the St. Paul's Reformed Church of Newton.
Dr. Sinnett was very involved in community service, serving on the board of directors of the Newton Merchants Association, giving physical examinations for the high school athletic program without charge for 16 years, named city physician of Newton in 1976, and was appointed by the governor to serve as the medical advisor for the N.C. Association of Rescue Squads.
He was a Mason for 59 years, belonging to both the York Rite and Scottish Rite Bodies and Shrine. He served twice as Master of the Catawba Lodge #248 AF & AM, Newton. Dr. Sinnett was Thrice Illustrious Master, Hickory Council, Number 32. He was named a Life Member of the Knight Crusaders of the Cross. Sinnett also belonged to several allied Mason organizations.
Dr. Sinnett was a member of the Rotary Club of Newton-Conover for 52 years, serving as the club's president in 1974-1975. He became a Paul Harris Fellow in 1977 and served as District Governor of 767 in 1978-1979. In 2000, the Rotary Club of Newton-Conover established the Dr. John F. Sinnett Scholarship to honor Dr. Sinnett for his contributions to Rotary International.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Starling Miller Sinnett; and two sisters, Elaine Sinnett Slack and Cora Evelyn Sinnett.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Parker Sinnett; four sons, John Franklin Sinnett, Jr. and wife, Suzanne Bost Sinnett of Raleigh, Thomas G. Sinnett and wife, Gail Byers Sinnett, of Charlotte, Walter Drew Sinnett of Conover, Michael Ralph Dwiggins and wife, Martha Vaca Dwiggins, of Pittsburgh, PA; three daughters, Julie Dwiggins Holloway and husband, Christopher Jay Holloway of Leonard, MI, Nancy Sinnett Tharpe and husband, David Dirk Tharpe, of Columbia, SC, and Francie Sinnett Carney and husband, Christopher Shawn Carney of Mooresville; nine grandsons, Christopher Todd Sinnett of Charlotte, Benjamin Scott Sinnett of Greenville, NC, Charles Andrew Sinnett and wife, Angela Gilsdorf Sinnett, of Charlotte, John Walter Sinnett of Buies Creek, Bryan Thomas Sinnett of Raleigh, William Garrett Holloway and Matthew Tolliver Holloway of Leonard, MI, David Barr Tharpe of Columbia, SC, William John Carney of Mooresville; seven granddaughters, Laura Catherine Sinnett Porter and husband, David Porter, of Harrisburg, NC, Suzanne Leigh Sinnett of Greenville, NC, Rebecca Nicole Sinnett Shepherd and husband, Brandon Shepherd, of Sneads Ferry, NC, Sarah Elizabeth Sinnett of Colerain, NC, Rachel Claire Carney and Madison Grace Carney of Mooresville, Mary Neil Tharpe of Columbia, SC; three great-grandchildren, Reid and Grant Ross Porter of Harrisburg, NC, and Chase Joseph Alexander Shepherd of Sneads Ferry, NC; a sister, Anna Sinnett Whisman of Huntington, WV; two nephews, Harry E. Slack, III of Proctorville, OH and Roy S. Slack of New York; three great nieces; six great-great nieces; two great-great nephews; and faithful caregiver, Cynthia Jennings of Hickory.
The funeral will be held at Grace Reformed United Church of Christ, Newton, at 2:00 PM Wednesday, August 25. The service will be conducted by the Reverends Dr. Stephen Disher, Harold Leatherman and Dr. Tom Hamilton. A private graveside service will follow at Catawba Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Bill Allen, Harold Abernethy, Jack Bolick, Michael Butler, Ray Garrison Corne, and James Templeton. Members of the Rotary Club of Newton-Conover and Loyd Mullinax will serve as honorary pallbearers.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, August 24, from 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM at the Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Newton-Conover for the Dr. John F. Sinnett Scholarship, PO Box 541, Conover, NC 28613. The scholarship is awarded annually to CVCC students studying in the Health and Human Resources fields.
Condolences may be sent to the Sinnett family at www.willisreynoldsfuneralhome.com.
The Sinnett family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Willis-Reynolds Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton.