Randy Pearman Hinkle II

Born in St. Louis and raised in southern Illinois, Randy graduated from Belleville Township High School, Belleville, IL (class of 1961), where many infamous baseball and basketball stories originated, and legendary friendships were made. More importantly, this is where he met the love-of-his-life Gayle.

While he fell in love with the cute girl who sharpened her pencil by his desk, Randy also loved baseball. As co-captain of the 1961 American Legion Belleville Hilgards team, they finished second in the state. He would then go on to play for Belleville Jr. College.

On September 11, 1965, Randy and Gayle were married, 58 years ago to the exact day of his death. It was a marriage filled with love, happiness, joy, humor, thoughtfulness, unconditional devotion and friendship.

After graduating from Southern Illinois University in 1966, Randy proudly enlisted into the U.S. Navy. He served as a Naval Officer on a destroyer, the U.S.S. Fred T. Berry, until 1970—receiving a Vietnam Service Ribbon.

Upon retiring from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in 2007, Randy found time to enjoy what he loved most, spending time with family and friends. Although he had many passions, American history, civil war canons, baseball, coaching, reading biographies, the most dearest to his heart was being a grandfather to his two granddaughters Jacqueline Hinkle and Danica Hinkle. He journeyed far and wide (no matter where they lived in the U.S.) to make sure to attend every major event in their life. This bond would continue, as young women they would call him often to talk about life, share their achievements or make plans for their next visit.

One of Randy’s true gifts was coaching. He had a natural ability to recognize talent in young athletes. From 1976-1985, as a youth baseball and basketball coach in O’Fallon, IL, he helped develop skills and sportsmanship. Many of these individuals today remark how he positively influenced their lives.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents Randy and Mabel (Johnson), his sister Dolores Hinkle, and brother Don Hinkle.

Randy is survived by his beloved wife Gayle (Gaertner), his son Rob and daughter-in-law Barbara—both of whom he was so incredibly proud of, his two wonderful granddaughters Jacqueline and Danica who he showered with adoration, sister-in-law Betty Hinkle, nieces and nephews Linda Emke (Mike), Don Jr. Hinkle (Bev), Denise Jost (Michael), Michelle Fredeking (Wes), cousins Judy Hinkle and Mary T. James, and of course his very special cousin, friend and racing buddy Jim Hinkle.

He is remembered as a fun grandfather, loving husband and father, first-class friend, caring neighbor, kind-hearted man, and a faithful follower in Christ as a long-time member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Belleville.

A memorial service for Randy will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023 at 12:00 P.M. at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, IL. A visitation will be held two hours prior to the service, from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Final interment will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, 105 East “D” St, Belleville, IL 62220 (memo: In Memory of Randy Hinkle)