Frederick William Mink Jr.

Frederick “Fred” William Mink, Jr. of Harrisburg, aged 72, passed away on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Born on August 5, 1938, he was the son of the late Frederick William Mink, Sr., and the late Thelma Paules Mink, both of Harrisburg.

Fred graduated from Central Dauphin High School, where he played on the school’s football team, in 1956. He graduated from Gettysburg College, where he also played on the school’s football team, in 1960. He then served three years in the United States Army before returning to Harrisburg to begin a career as a high school teacher. He taught high school history and world cultures for thirty years in the Harrisburg School District, most of it at John Harris High School, before retiring. He was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. He enjoyed reading, discussing topics of history and culture with family and friends, and travelling with family to many destinations across the United States, including many cherished family trips to Gettysburg, beaches along the Atlantic Coast, national parks and wildlife refuges, and Walt Disney World.

Fred is survived by his wife of 48 years, Vera (Decker) Mink, formerly of Curwensville; son Daniel Mink of Harrisburg; daughter Sonya Mink and her fiancé David Border of Harrisburg; granddaughter Scarlett Elizabeth; dogs Frodo, Jamie, and Tara; brother David Mink and wife Emma of Harrisburg; cousin Tammy Siemons of West Fairview; niece Shelley Rinehart of Dubois; nieces Jennifer Opaliski and Janessa Young of Curwensville; nephew Randy Decker and niece Kayde Carter of Edwardsville, Illinois; nephew David Mink of McAllisterville; niece Diane Gill of Harrisburg; and nephew Douglas Mink of Nottingham, Maryland.

A memorial service will be held at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 118 State Street, Harrisburg, on Saturday, February 12th at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance (www.cpaa.info), 1802 Silver Pine Circle, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050, or to the National Parks Conservation Association (www.npca.org), 777 6th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001-3723.

Arrangements under the direction of Neill Funeral Home, Harrisburg, PA.