Marvel Tinker
Marvel Winfield Tinker, 97, of Lookout Valley, passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 25, 2017.
Marvel was the fifth of seven children born to Winfield Scott and Katie Doss Tinker of Bridgeport, Al.
He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1939 and briefly worked for the Bridgeport News Herald before joining the Army Air Corps. During World War II, he served as a bomber mechanic, supporting the advancing Allied Forces through Egypt, Tunis, Sicily, and Italy. Upon returning to the states, he moved to Chattanooga where he met his beloved wife of 66 years, Laura Sabin. Each was working in sales, Marvel, at Loveman’s and Laura, at Miller Bros. Shortly after the 1948 opening of DuPont in Chattanooga, Marvel became an employee of the nylon plant until retirement 33 years later. He was among the loyal band of former DuPont electrical workers who met yearly. Marvel was active in retirement, serving as a deacon, then elder at the Central Church of Christ and running Tinker Catering jointly with his wife. Over the years, Marvel doted on his children and grandchildren spending many hours supervising homework, chaperoning field trips and watching the kids play a sport or perform at a concert. He will be fondly remembered by all.
Marvel was preceded in death by his wife, Laura, parents, Scott and Katie, and five siblings, Kendrick Tinker, Alex Tinker, Drucilla Stall, Jeff Tinker and Yvonne Hoback.
He is survived by his sister, Jimmie Cash and two daughters, Marianne (Bill) Helton and Cindy (Barton) Close. He has five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 28, at 11 a.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Minister David Schonhoff officiating. Burial will follow in Lakewood Memory Gardens, West with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Walter Close, Cavin Helton, Gerald Helton, Jerry Tinker, Robert Tinker, Steve Tinker, Chris Tinker and Greg Tinker.
To share expressions of sympathy, visit lane-southcrestchapel.com.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 27, from 4-8 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.