John Tinkler

John Douglas Tinkler, Ph.D., 80, of Chattanooga died on Saturday, May 24, 2014. Dr. Tinkler was born in Atoka, Tenn., and first came to Chattanooga as a boarder at the McCallie School, where he graduated in 1951. He was also a graduate of Vanderbilt University (B.A., Magna Cum Laude, 1955), the University of Florida (M.A., 1957), and of Stanford University (Ph.D., 1964). He taught English at University of Tennessee at Knoxville (1961-67), the University of Chattanooga (1967-69), and UTC (1969-2000). He spent four different summers on National Endowment for Humanities projects at major universities, including Stanford University and the University of Chicago. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a life member of the American Dialect Society. Dr. Tinkler enjoyed teaching and loved his students, especially at UTC. He regretted retiring and not being in the classroom with them, but still held forth on his front porch for all who passed. He was pre-deceased by his mother Martha Hindman Tinkler, his father Neill Douglas Tinkler, a sister Carolyn Tinkler Ramsey and a brother James A. Tinkler. He is survived by his wife, Mary Crawford Tinkler; his son, Michael Crawford Tinkler, Ph.D.; and his daughter, Cate (Catherine) Tinkler Mueller, Capt., U.S. Navy, ret., and her husband, Dan Mueller and four grandchildren, Mitchell Mueller, Patrick Mueller, Caroline Mueller, and Mary Elizabeth Mueller. He is also survived by two sisters, Sarah Tinkler Montgomery and Helen Tinkler Snaith, and a number of nephews and nieces. Funeral Services will be held at Rivermont Presbyterian Church today, May 28, 2014 at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Clay Thomas officiating. Interment will follow at Arab Memorial Cemetery at 2 p.m. CDT located at 740 North Main Street, Arab, Ala. Memorial contributions may be made to the McCallie School or the UC Foundation. Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson 531-3975.