Daniel E. Hinton Sr.

Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Daniel E. Hinton Sr., U.S. Army, of Melbourne, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2025, at the age of 77.

Dan was born in Owensboro, Kentucky on April 9, 1948, to the late Arthur L. and Thomas Alene Hinton. Raised in a military family, he spent his early years moving frequently as his father's service took them across the country and abroad. These experiences instilled in him a strong sense of duty, adaptability, and a deep appreciation for service - qualities that defined his life.

He graduated from Prince George Senior High School in Prince George, Virginia, in 1967. In 1971, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with honors from Florida Institute of Technology, becoming one of the first graduates of the university's Army ROTC program. Following a deployment to Korea, Dan continued his academic achievements, earning a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with honors in 1976, also from Florida Institute of Technology.

Dan began his military career in 1970 through ROTC, joining the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He completed the Signal Officer Basic Course in 1971 and the Signal Officer Advanced Course in 1976, and went on to graduate from the U.S. Army Reserve Command and General Staff College in 1986. He served 14 years on active duty from 1971 to 1983, including time in Korea, and his final active-duty assignment was with TRADOC at Fort Gordon. After leaving active duty, he continued his service in the Delaware National Guard from 1983 until his honorable discharge in 1991, supporting his unit's deployment to Desert Storm. Over more than two decades of combined service, he earned the respect of all who served with him.

Following his active-duty career, Dan transitioned into private-sector engineering, joining IITRI in Annapolis, Maryland. A few years later, he moved to SAIC and eventually Leidos, where he continued his work as a talented and respected electrical engineer. Throughout his career, Dan was known not only for his technical excellence and leadership, but for his deep commitment to mentoring others - a quality that shaped the careers of many who had the privilege of working with him.

Dan was also driven by a personal passion: developing technology to support the deafblind community, a mission inspired by his son, Daniel. This pursuit became one of the most meaningful aspects of his professional and personal life. He dedicated countless hours to learning, innovating, and advocating for solutions that would improve communication and independence for individuals who are deafblind. His work reflected both his engineering talent and his unwavering love as a father.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Pamela S. (Hickenbottom) Hinton; his children Matthew (Jennifer), Scott (Robin), and Jonathan Hinton; and his grandchildren Paige, Daniel, and Addison. He is also survived by his siblings Jimmy Hinton, Barbara Hinton Burley, Tommy Hinton, and Katherine Sprowse. He was predeceased by his son, Daniel E. Hinton Jr.; his parents; his brother Arthur Hinton; and his sister Ruth Yonts.

A service to honor and celebrate Dan's life will be held Friday, January 9th at 10:00am at First Baptist Church of Melbourne. Interment will follow at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.