Rev. Marvin Richard Hinkle

Rev. Marvin Richard Hinkle, 84, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, beloved pastor and faithful servant, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at his residence.

He was born on June 2, 1941, in Lafayette, Indiana to the late Benjamin Ellsworth Hinkle and Mary Anna (Falck) Hinkle.

Pastor Hinkle was united in marriage to Harriet Ann Bledsoe on June 26, 1966 at St. James Lutheran Church, Lafayette, Indiana.

As a teenager he worked in his grandfather’s toy store, The Kleinhans Store. He attended Lafayette Jefferson High School, graduating in 1959. He graduated from Indiana State University in 1966 and received his Master’s degree from St. Francis University in Fort Wayne.

Pastor Hinkle is a current member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he served his vicarage while at the Seminary. He was proud to serve his vicarage in his home congregation at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne due to the efforts of his vicarage supervisor, Rev. Dr. Robert Preus. While at the Seminary he was influenced by his mentors Rev Dr. Charles Evanson and Rev. Dr. Kurt Marquardt.

Pastor Hinkle was an ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. He was a teacher at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne for 14 years. It was during this time that he also completed his studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Following his ordination, on September 16, 1979, he returned to Concordia and served as the Chaplain at the High School. He then entered the parish ministry, faithfully serving at Zion Lutheran Church – Friedheim in rural Decatur; St. James Lutheran Church in Logansport, Indiana; St. John Lutheran Church – Sand Prairie in Green Valley, Illinois; returning to St. James in Logansport for 10 years before retiring in 2009.

A special thanks to the Edward LeBeau family, Chad Baumann and the staff at Eleos Hospice.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Harriet A. Hinkle of Fort Wayne, Indiana; sister, Carolyn Jean (Richard) Christensen of Lafayette, Indiana; granddaughter, Chelsea Lynne and niece, Abigail Leigh Christensen of Whitestown, Indiana.

Pastor Hinkle was preceded in death by his son, James Benjamin Hinkle and a brother, Robert Lynn Hinkle.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, with Rev David H. Peterson officiating, 202 W Rudisill Blvd, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46807. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Friedheim.

Family and friends will be received from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Preferred memorials are to the various churches that Pastor Hinkle served.

Arrangements by Zwick and Jahn Funeral Homes of Decatur, Indiana