R. "Larry" Hinkle

R. “Larry” Hinkle Salem, South Carolina Ralph “Larry” Hinkle, 92, loving husband of 58 years to Mary Williams Hinkle, passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at his home. Born March 26, 1932, in Oconee County, South Carolina, Larry was the son of the late Ralph Hinkle and Cleo Childress Hinkle. Larry was born in what is now Pat’s Cash & Carry corner grocery store in Salem, and the original building is still standing and in operation today. Larry attended Salem Elementary until the 4th grade. Larry lived with his Aunt Nell and Uncle Hall Hinkle for two years in elementary then moved with his family to East Main Street in Pickens. He continued in the Pickens County Public School System until his senior year in high school. Thirty days before graduation, Larry was drafted into the U.S. Navy and was not able to graduate. Larry earned his GED while serving in the Navy. Larry married Mary Francis Williams in 1965 after meeting her while changing the tire on the pulpwood truck she was driving for her father. Mary was born April 27, 1940, and lived in Table Rock after moving from the mountains of North Carolina. Mary quit school in the 8th grade to help support her family by working at Runnymede Mill in Pickens. Mary enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Navy Wave while working in the Federal Building in Manhattan, NY. Mary also received her GED while serving. Mary served four years, then moved back to Pickens. After Larry and Mary married, they lived in the shop on Shady Grove Road and slept on a sofa held up by four Jeep rims. Their son, Laramie Sterling Hinkle was born November 8, 1966. Larry picked up bottles and cans on the roadside every day and saved enough for their first house on Aniwaya View in Pickens. On February 27, 1968, they had a daughter, Camala Nanette Hinkle. Laramie and Camala attended and graduated from Easley Christian School in Easley. Laramie married Jarred Rene Keowen on November 26, 2007. They have two boys, Kaelin Jarred Hinkle and Brodyn Sterling Hinkle and reside in Salem, SC. Camala Hinkle has two boys, Dustin Alan Porter and David Lache Porter. Camala and her boyfriend, Jay Self reside in Greenwood, SC. Larry was drafted into the U.S. Navy on February 28, 1951, stationed on the USS Hector during the Korean War, serving as a machinist mate under Captain Hudson. Larry worked in auxiliary repair, doing rigorous repairs to the damaged ships from Pearl Habor. After repairs were made the ships were sent back to battle. After the war ended in 1953, Larry was transferred to the former U.S. Naval Station located in Treasure Island in San Francisco, California and a year later was discharged on January 18, 1955. Larry’s first job out of the service was with Jamie Stevens pulling cars back from Toledo, Ohio. They would restore all types of cars and resell them. In 1959, Larry started rebuilding used Jeeps on Shady Grove Road. The location is still standing today, and many Jeep enthusiasts know the original location as the home and shop of the late Weldon Haynes, Larry’s lead Jeep mechanic for Hinkle’s Jeep. Weldon was known to many as the Master of Jeep knowledge and repair. From that location in 1971 Larry built his new dealership on Hwy 183 west of Pickens, now the current Pickens County Maintenance Building. Larry ran the sales side of the company, while Mary worked to oversee the day-to-day operations – but mainly in the shipping and receiving department, shipping parts and accessories all over the world. In 1973, he became, for the first time, AMC Jeep’s World's Largest Jeep Dealer selling over 1000 Jeeps in one year. Larry then ran, consecutively, as the largest Jeep dealer in the world until his retirement in 1983 when he liquidated Hinkle’s Jeep. AMC Jeep asked Larry to start carrying Renault, Larry only believed in the Jeep brand. Larry and his wife, Mary, after much discussion, decided to close Hinkle’s Jeep and start spending more time with their family. There was only one Jeep sent back to AMC on the day Hinkle’s Jeep was closed. During this time Larry also ran the largest fleet wrecker service in the Upstate. Larry’s had wreckers on Jeep trucks, up to the largest wrecker in the tri-state area, “MIGHTY MOE”. Mighty Moe was used to pull dozers out of Keowee and Jocassee for Duke Power or Law Enforcement, emergency services, you would know when it was on the move because roads would be shut down to drive it from one emergency to another. It was also the hit of all parades in the upstate, the kids loved Mighty Moe. It was the King of Wreckers! Larry always had the idea bigger was always better. In 1965 Larry served as deputy Sheriff for Pickens County Law Enforcement under Sheriff Clyde Bolding. Sheriff David Stone assigned Larry to SLED in March of 1979 to assist multi-jurisdictional law enforcement as a lieutenant. Larry continued to be active in SLED under Sheriff David Stone, and finally retired from SLED in March of 2020. Larry still had a special place in his heart for law enforcement until his passing, and was proud of his brother, Kenneth Hinkle, and his son, Laramie Hinkle for serving in law enforcement to protect our community as well as many of his dear friends. Larry and Mary have always considered St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital their charity of choice. Larry was a huge benefactor to multiple local programs such as Pickens, Parker and Daniel High Schools. Larry and Mary felt that a good education was the vehicle, but self-motivation and ambition were the fuel to success. His favorite memory was giving any student a Jeep to drive, and a paid trip to the beach for a week. To qualify, you could not miss a day of school from the first grade to 12th grade. He was so proud when he handed them the keys. Larry loved people and made each and every one his best friend. He loved his bluegrass, church hymns, and gospel music too. He loved to dance, and always had enough energy for just one more dance. The Jeep community was his favorite activity, fun Jeep rides, jamborees and giving prizes away. He also loved kids and helping them achieve their goals and dreams. His personal hobbies were his grandchildren, and anything related to them. He loved operating heavy equipment, taking any Jeep through the most extreme conditions, and good clean family fun. His earlier days were filled with hunting, fishing, and anything animal related. In his later years, he loved to read his Bible and have people read to him. Survivors include a son, Laramie Hinkle (Jarrod) of Salen, SC; a daughter, Camala Hinkle (Jay Self) of Greenwood, SC; grandchildren, Dustin Porter, Lache Porter, Brodyn Hinkle, and Kaelin Hinkle; siblings, Margaret Hinkle Willimon, William Kenneth Hinkle, Angela Hinkle Bolding, Ralphele Hinkle Nations, and Louis Kayren Hinkle; nieces and nephews, Albert “Louie” Willimon, Gregory Willimon, Phillip Willimon, Stefanie Hinkle Hoxit, Justin Hinkle, Shawn Hinkle, Larry Dean Bolding, Deana Bolding McAnulty, Kevin Nations, Cameron Nations, Tom Swayngham, Mary Swayngham Monroe, Julie Williams Trull, Terry Williams, and Susan Williams Dunaway. In addition to his parents, Larry was predeceased by a nephew, Ricky Willimon; two nieces, Brenda Willimon Simmons, and Rita Willimon; sister-in-law, Bess Williams Swayngham and her husband, Pat Swayngham; and brother-in-law, Truman Joe Williams and his wife, Ann Williams. A private family memorial service, for Larry & Mary, will be held at their beloved Jocassee lakefront property. A Celebration of Life Jeep rally will be held for their much-loved extended family, close friends, Jeep family, and all the wonderful people who enjoyed years of life and laughter with them. The Celebration of Life Jeep Ride will be announced to the public at a date in the near future. Larry and Mary were both raised in agriculture and farming. Learning to live off the land and protect our natural environment for future generations became their passion. In lieu of flowers they respectfully request all charitable donations be made to the SC Governor’s School for Agriculture at John De La Howe. Please see the attached link for online donations in the name of Larry and/or Mary Hinkle. They have chosen the following fields of need to promote their love of the land and our future generations knowledge and protection of God’s great gift. Agricultural Mechanics and Technology Fund Farm and Row Crop Fund Field and Trial Team Horticulture Curriculum and Greenhouse Fund Shotgun Team Supplies and Student Fees https://sc.accessgov.com/jdlh/Forms/Page/jdlh/donation-form/1 Checks may be mailed to Attn: Foundation, 192 Gettys Road, McCormick, SC 29835 Mountain View Funeral Home – Pickens Chapel is serving the Hinkle family.

R. "Larry" Hinkle

March 26, 1932 - June 12, 2024