Thomas P. Trinkle

1945 - 2021

Thomas Paul Trinkle, age 76, of Tokyo, Japan and formerly Allentown, PA, passed away on Wednesday, September 22, 2021. He was born September 4, 1945 in Allentown, the son of the late Irvin F. Trinkle, Sr. and Florence M. (Toner) Trinkle.

Tom graduated in the Class of 1963 from Central Catholic High School. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in the U.S. Navy headquarters located in Washington D.C. and Japan. He attended Lehigh Carbon Community College, where he graduated in the Class of 1969. He finished his college career in 1972 at Sophia University, Japan, earning his Bachelor's Degree in Far Eastern Studies. He became an instructor at the International Educational Center in Tokyo, Japan, where he taught English for more than 35 years. He was also an examiner for 34 years for the Society for Testing English Proficiency organization (STEP), which is backed by the Japanese Ministry of Education. In addition, Tom was the head coach for the Tokyo Cherokee High School football team for two years. Throughout his lifetime, he published two books and was a member of the Howard L. Peter American Legion, Post #576 in Allentown.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Naoko (Kuramochi) Trinkle of Tokyo, Japan; two sons, Michael H. (Allison) Trinkle of NY, and David T. (Angelica) Trinkle of Orlando, FL; one daughter, Mary N. (Eric) Bodnar of Pittsburgh, PA; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Irvin F. Trinkle, Jr. of Anaheim, CA, and Paul F. Trinkle of Emmaus, PA; and one sister, Maryann Trinkle of York, PA.

Professional Services are entrusted to Weber Funeral Homes, P.C. in Allentown. A Visitation will be held Monday, December 13, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. until the Mass of Christian Burial is celebrated at 11:00 A.M., both will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, 1825 W Turner St, Allentown, PA 18104. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom's memory to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.