John De La Roche Rinker

Augusta, GA. - Mr. John de La Roche Rinker, beloved husband of the late Dorothy Strother Rinker, and loving father of the late Thomas Mark Rinker, entered into rest on Sunday evening, February 6, 2011 at Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 11, 2011 at 11:00 am at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with the Rev. John Tran officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow at Westover Memorial Park.
Mr. Rinker was the youngest of five brothers born to Joseph William Rinker, Sr. and Mildred Thomas Rinker on September 29, 1923 in Hogansville, GA. He married the love of his life and together they had four children. A graduate of the Academy of Richmond County, he attended the University of Mexico and the Junior College of Augusta with a major in liberal arts.
He was appointed a cadet 2nd Lieutenant in ARC Unit of the Reserved Officers Training Corp on November 5, 1942 at Richmond Academy in Augusta. While on active duty, he served in the US Navy aboard the USS Altamaha From 1943-1946 and was in the Naval Reserve until 1959. He was a translator for the Navy, and was fluent in Spanish, German, and Portuguese, and was passionate about language philology and grammar. His love of grammar was truly a gift to his children as they attended their English classes in school. His love for the Navy was again evident as the children were growing up. After bedtime lights out, they could hear him pretend to be playing taps from another room. Sometimes they were blessed with reverie when time to wake up for school.
In 1948, he began his career with Retail Credit Company. By 1956, he was director of claims over 5 states. He retired from Equifax in 1983 with 35 years of service.
Anyone who knew him knew of his love for animals; especially horses and goats. He was also the owner of the first goat dairy in the Augusta area, the Bonnie Brae from 1946-1950. He grew up riding horses with his loyal friend of over 80 years Johnny Pope. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and loyal friend. He was a true servant, always there for anyone needing help. He will be remembered for his gentle loving nature, his devotion to his wife, and his delightful sense of humor. A dad who always made time for his family, whether watching a son play baseball, his daughters ride horses, or helping to build a deck using a “preacher” board which he explained was placed between each board width to keep you on a straight path. He loved to play checkers and took every opportunity to teach his grandchildren how to play.
He is survived by his daughter, Elaine Cadle and her husband, Chuck, of New Jersey; his daughter Donna Cannon and her husband, Clyde, of Augusta; his son Robert David Rinker and his wife, Teddiann, of Augusta; eight grandchildren, Angela Glass, Alicia Karpick, Shannon Hambrick, Jeffrey Cadle, David Rinker, Eric Rinker, Jason Cadle and Melanie Rinker; his 8 great-grandchildren, Brandon Hambrick, Tori Blakes, Ethan Karpick, Kai Karpick, Riley Cadle, Robert Thomas Rinker, Tyler Cadle and Aubreigh Shay Rinker, as well as his best friend and best man at his wedding, Johnny Pope and his wife Joan.
Pallbearers will be Eric Rinker, Jason Cadle, Jeff Cadle, Brandon Hambrick, Chuck Cadle, Johnny Pope, and David Rinker.
His family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home for their dedicated and loving care of our father for the last few years. What a blessing it has been to know that he was well taken care of, loved by the staff who called him “Grandpa” and that he was content and happy to be with you all as his extended family. May God bless each and every one of you.
If so desired, memorials may be made to Georgia War Veteran’s Home, 1101 15th Street, Augusta, GA. 30901 or Alzheimer’s Association, 1899 Central Ave., Augusta, GA. 30904 ( www.alz.org/georgia)
A Vigil for the Deceased will take place on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 5:30 pm at Platt’s Crawford Avenue Chapel, with visitation following from 6:00 until 8:00 pm.