Carl G. Rinker of Randolph, Ohio passed away at 3:25 p.m. Monday, September 21, 2009 at Alliance Community Hospital. He was 82 years old.
Carl was born May 17, 1927 in Elyria, Ohio, to Carl and Johanna (Britting) Rinker. He grew up in Alliance and lived his entire life working and raising his family in Northeastern Ohio.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Thelma S. (Strong) Rinker of Randolph, whom he married on June 26, 1954; one daughter, Carrie W. Rinker-Schaeffer Ph.D., her husband, Win Schaeffer, and their son, Carl Schaeffer of Flossmoor, Illinois; his sisters, Winifred (Neal) Mosley of Tucson, Arizona and Bettyruth Putland of Los Altos, California. He is also survived by his close family friends, Larry, Pam, and Bradley Wise and Brian Conner, all of Atwater, who played an important role in his life and health care.
Like many men of his generation, Carl began working at the age of eight delivering papers and continued working steadily as he graduated from Alliance High School. He also served in World War II as an Army medic in the Pacific Theater. Upon his return home, he attended night school at Mount Union College and soon thereafter began his lifelong career in engineering. Over the years he worked at Philco, Atwater Strong Company and ThermoRite. He also started his own business, T.A.N.I. Engineering, which specialized in the production of unique custom parts and springs for music boxes and clocks. He did work for many museums, including the Smithsonian.
Carl is one of the last of the generation of engineers who had extensive experience working in the plant solving real problems. He was able to use those decades of practical knowledge and teach young machinists the "Tricks of the Trade". He was known as the "Go-to-Guy" - the person who could show you how to get the job done creatively and efficiently. He shared his professional and life experience freely with all. His love for work inspired and encouraged many young men to become engineers. He passed on his passion for invention and work to his grandson and namesake, Carl Schaeffer who wants to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and become an engineer.
Carl was known by all as an outstanding father who supported his daughter Carrie's interest in science from a young age. He encouraged her to become the first in the family to graduate from college, and to pursue graduate school in Biochemistry. She is now a cancer researcher and Associate Professor of Surgery/Urology, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago. She is but one example of the young people, who Carl taught, supported and encouraged over the years.
Carl will be remembered by friends and family as a man who loved his work, his family and his friends. He will also be thought of as a man who had a zest for life and remained a child at heart and a man who until the end of his life took great joy in laughing with his grandson at cartoons, telling entertaining stories and sharing food and treats with those around him.
A private family service will be held.
In lieu of flowers the family would greatly appreciate that donations be made to the University of Chicago Urology Research Fund by contacting Ms. Joanne Swanson at 773-702-9757.
Final arrangements have been made by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
Carl was born May 17, 1927 in Elyria, Ohio, to Carl and Johanna (Britting) Rinker. He grew up in Alliance and lived his entire life working and raising his family in Northeastern Ohio.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Thelma S. (Strong) Rinker of Randolph, whom he married on June 26, 1954; one daughter, Carrie W. Rinker-Schaeffer Ph.D., her husband, Win Schaeffer, and their son, Carl Schaeffer of Flossmoor, Illinois; his sisters, Winifred (Neal) Mosley of Tucson, Arizona and Bettyruth Putland of Los Altos, California. He is also survived by his close family friends, Larry, Pam, and Bradley Wise and Brian Conner, all of Atwater, who played an important role in his life and health care.
Like many men of his generation, Carl began working at the age of eight delivering papers and continued working steadily as he graduated from Alliance High School. He also served in World War II as an Army medic in the Pacific Theater. Upon his return home, he attended night school at Mount Union College and soon thereafter began his lifelong career in engineering. Over the years he worked at Philco, Atwater Strong Company and ThermoRite. He also started his own business, T.A.N.I. Engineering, which specialized in the production of unique custom parts and springs for music boxes and clocks. He did work for many museums, including the Smithsonian.
Carl is one of the last of the generation of engineers who had extensive experience working in the plant solving real problems. He was able to use those decades of practical knowledge and teach young machinists the "Tricks of the Trade". He was known as the "Go-to-Guy" - the person who could show you how to get the job done creatively and efficiently. He shared his professional and life experience freely with all. His love for work inspired and encouraged many young men to become engineers. He passed on his passion for invention and work to his grandson and namesake, Carl Schaeffer who wants to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and become an engineer.
Carl was known by all as an outstanding father who supported his daughter Carrie's interest in science from a young age. He encouraged her to become the first in the family to graduate from college, and to pursue graduate school in Biochemistry. She is now a cancer researcher and Associate Professor of Surgery/Urology, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago. She is but one example of the young people, who Carl taught, supported and encouraged over the years.
Carl will be remembered by friends and family as a man who loved his work, his family and his friends. He will also be thought of as a man who had a zest for life and remained a child at heart and a man who until the end of his life took great joy in laughing with his grandson at cartoons, telling entertaining stories and sharing food and treats with those around him.
A private family service will be held.
In lieu of flowers the family would greatly appreciate that donations be made to the University of Chicago Urology Research Fund by contacting Ms. Joanne Swanson at 773-702-9757.
Final arrangements have been made by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
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