Richard James "Dick" Hinchey, Jr., 83, of Dalton, Ga., died in his sleep on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 .

He is preceeded in death by his mother, Ella Hodson Hinchey; and his father, Dr. Richard James Hinchey. 

Dick was born on July 31, 1928 in Waterbury, Conn. He attended St. Margaret's Parochial School in Waterbury, followed by Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, graduating in 1946. He lettered all four years in football and was a member of the track and field team, participating in the 100-yard relay and discus. He was elected president of the student council in his senior year. Dick studied pre-med and majored in chemistry at Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He lettered all four years in football, was elected president of the Connecticut Club, and graduated cum laude in 1950. He then attended Georgetown Medical School. 

After he completed his education, Dick joined U.S. Rubber as a research chemist. He then accepted a position in the country of Malaysia at the Malayan American Plantations to work as a research chemist and process engineer at the Harvard Processing Plant, which was the first and at that time the largest natural latex processing plant in the world. Later, he joined U.S. Rubber Chemical Division as a latex compounder and eventually worked in sales in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Dick and his family then moved to Georgia, and eventually to Dalton, where he worked with the U.S. Rubber Latex Sales Group and served the expanding carpet industry. The latex division was subsequently sold to U.S. Steel in 1979, which later closed down all operations in Dalton and in Baton Rouge, La.

Dick then joined Walsh Chemical of Gastonia, North Carolina, which then became a major chemical company of England. He then worked for the French company Rhone Poulenc, and finally BF Goodrich, prior to his retirement from full-time employment. Dick was a member of the Board of Trustees at Dalton State College, he was on the Board of Directors of Looper Speech and Hearing Center, served as vice-president of the Senior Aging Council and as President of the Latex Compounders Council. He was a Co-Founder of the Roman Open Golf Tournament which donated over a million dollars to local charities, served as President of St. Joseph's Catholic Church Parish Council, was a charter member and then later a Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council # 7662, and was a charter member and Faithful Navigator of Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly which includes councils in Fort Oglethorpe, Calhoun, and Dalton. 

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Suzanne Hoben Hinchey; his sister, Mary Ellen Wilcox, of Waterbury, Conn.; his six children, Suzanne McCarthy of Gakona, Ak., Richard Hinchey, III of Austin, Tx., Michael Hinchey of Renton, Wash., Beth Anne Hayes of Raleigh, N.C., James Hinchey of Woodstock, Ga. and Patrick Hinchey of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; 15 wonderful grandchildren; and five great-granchildren. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 13 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with Father Paul Williams officiating. He will be laid to rest at the West Hill Cemetery with his close family and friends serving as pallbearers. 

Visitation will be on Sunday, February 12 from 4-8 p.m. at the Melrose Chapel of Ponders Funeral Home who has charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent De Paul Society in Dalton, or to the Looper Speech and Hearing Center.