Edward W. Hinkle was born in 1922 to William and Stella Hinkle who lived at 154 Quick Street in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of three children: Edward, Donald and George. His father was a Forman at Phoenix Steel.

Edward graduated from Phoenixville High School, in 1940.   Phoenixville High School was then located on Nutt Road, where the hospital stands today.  He was in the Industrial Course of studies.

The High School Yearbook writes of Edward:

“As you cannot do what you wish,
You should wish what you can do.”
“Ed” is one of those future menaces, a teacher. 
Ed’s present occupation is selling newspapers.

 

 

Ed married Velma Lear and moved to 240 Washington Street.  He worked as a welder at Phoenixville Steel.

Ed entered service in the Army on July 11, 1945.  After basic training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, he was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia.  In July, he was sent overseas and joined Company L (Lima Company), of the 16^th Infantry Regiment, 1^st Infantry Division.  His unit was part of the Occupation Forces in Germany.

In September, the Associated Press reported that Edward was found dead in the barracks from a self-inflicted rifle shot. His wife, Velma, had not yet received any direct notification about her husband and sent an urgent telegraph to Germany seeking information.  She had just received a letter from Edward on the 16^th, written in good spirits, in which he asked for current pictures of her and their two year old daughter.

Private First Class Edward W. Hinkle died on September 17, 1946, in Weilburg, Germany.

A private service was held for Edward at the James F. Devlin Funeral home at 304 Franklin Ave, on Saturday, November 9, 1946.  Interment was at the Green Tree Cemetery in Oaks, on Egypt Road near Green Tree Road (next to Green Tree Brethren Church).