Mary Lou Hinkle

Mary Lou was born on September 16, 1944 in Dickinson Texas, to Robert Jones and Naomi Reinhardt. She attended Dickinson Junior High School in Dickinson Texas before moving to Pekin Illinois where she graduated from Pekin Community High School. She then attended college at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. Mary Lou Hinkle, 81, passed peacefully July 4, 2026 at the Arc at Sangamon Valley, Springfield Illinois.

Mary Lou was born on September 16, 1944 in Dickinson Texas, to Robert Jones and Naomi Reinhardt. She attended Dickinson Junior High School in Dickinson Texas before moving to Pekin Illinois where she graduated from Pekin Community High School. She then attended college at Pillsbury College Owatonna, Minnesota.

Mary Lou loved to read and enjoyed music from the 1950s. She loved fresh flowers, windy days, and blowing bubbles. She loved dachshunds and dearly missed her pup Gretchen. Mary Lou worked for Franklin Life Insurance Company for many years in the data entry department. She also worked at JC Penny’s in the catalog department. Mary Lou prided herself on her strong work ethic.

Survivors include her sons: Edward (spouse Rachel) Hinkle of Peoria, Illinois and Joel (spouse Donna) Hinkle of Springfield, Illinois. She loved her grandchildren; grandson Benjamin Hinkle of Peoria, Illinois and granddaughter Sunkayla Miles of Springfield, Illinois.

Cremation rites were accorded.