Obituary

Dr William Henry Trinkner, 96, a retired dental surgeon, advocate and teacher of drug prevention education, avid pilot and dedicated churchman, died at home with his family by his side on Wednesday, November 9, 2011.

His family remembers him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and he was cherished by his family and friends.

He was born in Lafayette, Indiana on Oct 3, 1915 the only child of William Ford Trinkner and Adeline M Trinkner. Both parents were nurses and both contracted the world wide pandemic flu of 1918. His father died of the flu leaving his mother to work long term assignments as a private duty nurse. He would be raised by his grandparents for the most part.  Both grandparents on each side of the family were farmers, and he often said that his Godly upbringing and hard farm labor made him the man he became for 96 years.

He went on to work his way through Indiana Academy, Andrews University and then finished up his last 4 years at Emory University in Atlanta, GA where he graduated with honors as a doctor of dental surgery.  While at Emory he married his sweetheart Doris Nelson on June 13, 1940.  After graduation he moved to Marietta, GA where he set up his first dental practice.  For 10 years he developed a thriving practice on the square in Marietta then the Air Force requested his services for the duration of the Korean War.  He managed 2 dental clinics in both Korea and Japan, as a Captain and then Major.

After the war he returned home to his loving wife Doris and son Bill and daughter Jeri in Daytona Beach, FL.  After a few months he got a call from a doctor friend stating that Carroll County, GA needed him a lot worse than Daytona Beach and it was off to Carrollton, GA where he practiced dentistry for 43 years.  He loved Carrollton, its people and the practice of dentistry.  He dearly loved his dental team of more than 20 years including Terry Williams the best lab man east of the Mississippi he used to say.  And who could ever forget Wilma Upchurch and Elsie Pate.  “They’re what keep me out of trouble” he used to say.  He prided himself for never turning down a patient in need, no matter what hour of the day or night, and no matter whether they could even pay.

He and Doris both loved doing missionary work and they were instrumental in building the first Seventh Day Adventist church in Carroll County.  They also volunteered their time to run a dental clinic on St Kitts down in the West Indies.

In 1996 after retirement he went to work as a volunteer educator with the National Drug Advisory.  His son Bill was the National Director and corporate pilot.  Both he and Bill are avid pilots and the time with the National Drug Advisory allowed them several great years to work together on the ground as well as their favorite place up in the air.  They spent many enjoyable hours flying the company plane to various seminars and speaking engagements.   He continued working with Kids, Dare officers and Parents until 2000 when his precious wife Doris of 60 years became terminally ill with cancer.  The last 6 months of her life he never left her side.

He later married a nurse Helen Moyers, in 2003.  They spent 7 happy years together at their lake house on the Hiwassee.  They were both members of the Cedar Ridge Seventh Day Adventist church where he served as head elder and teacher over the years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; William and Adeline Trinkner; his wife Doris of 62 years; his 2nd wife Helen; 2 grandsons, Tim Kelly and John Garren.

He is survived by his son Bill and wife Georgia, of Georgetown, TN; a daughter, Jeri Kelly and her husband Jim of Collegedale, TN; a grandson, Scott Trinkner and his wife Sherri, of Georgetown, TN; a granddaughter, April Johnson and husband Drew, of Cleveland, TN; a granddaughter, Wendi Trinkner, and her fiancé, Ryan Dorst of Breckenridge, CO; a granddaughter, Kristy Kelly, of Breckenridge, CO; a brother-in-law, Harold Nelson, of Hurst, IL;  Also, blessing his life were 7 great-grandchildren; Ben Trinkner, of Cleveland, TN; Nicole Trinkner of Cleveland, TN; Dakota Steele, of Cleveland, TN; Logan Johnson, of Cleveland, TN; Emily Ensley, of Midlothian, VA; Erica Ensley, of Cleveland, TN; and Jillian Hill, of Kileen, TX and a special foster son Chris Verschoor and wife Alicia, of San Diego, CA.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, at the Collgedale Community Church, 4995 Swinyar Dr, Collegedale.  Officiating will be Pastors Jerry Arnold and Ed Cox.  The family will receive friends at 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. prior to the Memorial Service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that Memorial contributions may be made to the Cedar Ridge Building Fund, Cedar Ridge SDA Church, 8408 Hwy 60, Georgetown, TN 37336.  A private Graveside Service for the family will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, at Sunset Memorial Gardens.