Elmer Howard Hinds, Jr.

Elmer Hinds
Dayton

Elmer Howard Hinds, Jr. 77, passed away on July 15, 2016 at his home in Dayton. He was born on June 29, 1939 in Dayton to Elmer Howard Hinds, Sr. and Cornie Lee (Wilkey) Hinds.
Elmer grew up in Dayton, graduated from Rhea Central High School in 1957. After high school he joined the Army National Guard achieving the rank of Sergeant with an Honorable Discharge. He continued to serve in the Army Reserves. He is a member of the American Legion Post 100, Tennessee American Legion, and the National American Legion.

He attended University of Tennessee, Nashville, and graduated from the Interstate Training School for Cummins Diesel Engines as his major.

He began working in the Trucking Industry as an Account Executive where he won several awards with different branches throughout the Southeast for Cummins Diesel of Indiana. He was the owner of the local Tri-State Truck Parts and Hi-Tech Industries remanufacturing power steering products which catered to the Trucking Industries. He was the owner of Rhea Equipment Company, an International Harvester Dealership for several years.

Elmer married Linda Lou Shaver in 1961 in Dayton, TN. They were happily married for 54 years. He received an award in 2008 for appreciation of “dedication and diligence in organizing and coordinating the Deano’s Golf Tournament” as a fund raiser for the Shaver Scholarship Fund at the Dayton Golf and County Club and was its Director for 10 years before passing it on to others with a 28 yearly scholarships given to date.

He served as Chairman of the Rhea County Republican Party for many years. In his honor he was awarded the first Elmer Hinds Award in 2008, presented annually by the party “for outstanding dedication and service toward establishing Republican principles in Tennessee Government.” He was nominated by Congressman Zack Wamp for District III 2007’s “Statesman of the Year” and honored by Tennessee Republican Chairman Bob Davis and the Tennessee Republican Party in Nashville. Congressman Wamp presented him with the flag that was flown over the U.S. White House in Washington D.C. on April 4, 2008 to honor Elmer Hinds, “a great American Patriot, friend, and an outstanding citizen of Rhea County, Tennessee.”

Elmer was a charter member of the Dayton Jaycees, a Lifetime Member of the Rhea County Historical Society, a member of New Union Baptist Church for over 30 years, and a member of Joe’s Sunday School Class. He was also a member of the Dayton Golf and Country Club and enjoyed golfing with his friends on trips to Waynesville, North Carolina twice yearly.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents Elmer Howard, Sr. and Cornie (Wilkey) Hinds.

He is survived by his wife Linda of Dayton; his children Pamela (Glenn) Mooneyham of Dunlap, Elmer III “Trey” (Teresa) Hinds of Dayton, and Christine “Tina” Hinds of Dayton; his grandchildren Clint Mooneyham of Nashville, Callie (Aaron) Campbell of North Carolina, Logan Hinds, Brayleigh McBryar, Reagan Hinds, Emmy Hinds, and Colt Seiber; his first great-grandchild Cayne Campbell; and his numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

A funeral service for Elmer will be held at New Union Baptist Church in Dayton with Dr. Danny Ruehling officiating Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. Burial will follow at the Second Shaver Cemetery in Dayton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Shaver Scholarship Fund, c/o Melissa Farnsworth, 2660 Ogden Road, Dayton, TN 37321, or the charity of your choice.

Please share your memories of Elmer on his on-line guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com .

The family is being cared for by the Vanderwall Funeral Home where they will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 2:00pm to 6:00 pm. Elmer will also lie in state at the church one hour before his funeral.