Ernestine Burroughs Hinz died on November 8, 2007, at her son’s home in Redwood Valley, California, at age 91. She had been a resident of Timber Ridge of McKinleyville since its opening in 2004.
Ernestine was born in Santa Clara, California, on September 9, 1916. When she was three years old her family moved to Oakland, and when she was five they moved to Antioch. In the summer after she graduated from elementary school, in 1929, she and her mother and father and two sisters took a trip to Europe, where they visited France, Switzerland, Italy, and England. They were gone for three months. She graduated from Antioch High School in 1933 and from the University of California at Berkeley in 1937 with a Bachelors Degree in English.
After graduation from U.C. she worked as a stenographer at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. In 1943 she went to work at the Industrial Accident Commission of the State of California in San Francisco as a hearing reporter. In 1947 she became a court reporter at the Alameda County Court House, where she worked until 1953 in the criminal court presided over by Judge Oliver D. Hamlin, Jr.
In 1953 she married Harlyn Lewis Hinz, becoming an instant mother to Harlyn’s six-year-old son Tom. Harlyn and Ernestine had three more children: Gregory, Robin, and David. They first lived in San Lorenzo, then in Castro Valley. At the end of 1959 Harlyn was transferred by his employer, Arden Farms, to Los Angeles, and the family moved to Altadena, where they lived until 1976. During the last few years of that time Ernestine worked as a secretary at the Pasadena Unified School District. In 1976 Harlyn was transferred to Seattle, and he and Ernestine moved to Bellevue, Washington. In 1978, Harlyn left his employment with Arden and went to work for Knudsen Corporation in Los Angeles. They kept their home in Bellevue, but moved to South Pasadena to live while Harlyn finished out his working career for Knudsen. Ernestine again worked for the Pasadena School District. In 1982 they both retired, returning to their home in Bellevue, Washington.
In 1995 they moved to Arcata to be near their son Tom and his wife Kathy and their three sons. In December of 2003 Harlyn died, and Ernestine moved into Timber Ridge as soon as it opened.
Ernestine was a member of the Church of the Joyful Healer in McKinleyville.
Besides her husband, Ernestine was predeceased by her mother, Clementine Burroughs; her father, Ernest C. Burroughs; her son, Gregory; her sister, Mildred Partansky; and her nephew, Dick Partansky. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Kathy Hinz of Blue Lake (Redwood Valley); her daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Leonard R. Garner Jr. of Toluca Lake, California; her son, David Hinz of Arcata; her grandsons, Nicholas, Keenan and Aaron Hinz; her grandsons, Clay and Cole Garner; her sister, Dorothy Heinemann; and by several nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Church of the Joyful Healer, North Coast Environmental Center, SANA, or to the charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at Timber Ridge of McKinleyville on Monday, November 12 at 2 pm.
Please sign the guestbook online at www.times-standard.com, click on obituaries.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Gayle Susan
November 23, 2007
My mother, Gwen, had the pleasure of living across the hall from Ernestine at Timber Ridge for 13 months. They shared a good deal of their computer jokes and stories, and I will always be grateful for the kindness and concern Ernestine showed towards my mom. I will miss visiting with her.
William Goodman
November 23, 2007
Thank you for your message about our friend Ernie. She was a great person and was such a blessing to our neighbor Harlan. I recall our last visit with them in Washington.Dorothy passed away on November 21, 2005 at age 87.. Bill Goodmman. I am 92 now and we were living in a retirement facility.
nancy peacock
November 20, 2007
EDIT: Additionally, David invited us canoeing, and cooked us a splendidly delicious dinner at Ernestine's inspiringly lovely Bellevue home.
Barbara Mitchell
November 19, 2007
My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead.
Bruce Franz, DPM
November 19, 2007
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.
Julia Partansky
November 17, 2007
I loved Aunt Ernie, my mother's sister very much. I have many fond memories of her growing up and how her family, my mom's and Aunt Dotty's used to get together to socialize. Ernie had a wonderful voice that I will never forget. I am so thankful that I was able to visit with her several weeks before she departed this world and to hear her tell me of many stories from her and mom's family. See you later Ernie!!!
Jalair Box
November 16, 2007
Ernie was a special person to me. She kept in touch with me all this time, and I felt that she was a person who highly valued accepting and loving people just as they are, as challenging as that can be.
She really shared herself with me. I am in some way stunned that she was born in 1917! She acted like a peer. Her deep love of math puzzles and chocolate pudding (made entirely of melted chocolate chips) makes me laugh to think about it. Her devotion to Harlyn lives on in my heart, and gives me a model to live up to in my marriage.
Ernie, thank you for being in my life. I am a deeper mother, wife and person because of you. I love you.
Jalair
Rachmat Martin
November 13, 2007
What a beautiful bright being you are Ernie. I shall miss our occasional email exchanges. Wishing you many blessings on your journey wherever it takes you.
Love, Rachmat
Bill Ralston
November 13, 2007
Ernie,
I'll always remember our wonderful conversations about life,
literature, and world affairs while sitting around the table at Tom and
Kathy's home in Redwood Valley. I remember our outing to watch the
Humboldt Crabs play one evening, as well. You were a wonderful mom and grandma, Ernie, and I know you are resting peacefully now. Your
beautiful spirit, sense of humor, and enthusiam for life are things
I'll always remember when I think of you, Ernie. I feel blessed for
having been able to call you a friend. I offer my warmest regards and
sincere condolences to Tom, Kathy, Nicholas, Keenan, and Aaron.
Muftiah Martin
November 12, 2007
We'll miss you Ernie. You were such a beautiful model for growing old. May your spirit fly free to sing and dance with the angels.
Love,
Barbara Meixner
November 12, 2007
Ernie was so fun to be with! She had such interesting stories. Ernie continued to enjoy new experiences--going to a 10-piano concert in Sacramento two years ago and teaching me how to do Sudoku puzzles last year. I will miss her.
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