Austin Craig Hinkle

Austin Craig Hinkle, age 87, quietly passed from this life on the morning of February 11, 2026 to a joyful reunion with family and friends.

Austin is preceded in death by his wife Susan, his son Randall Lee Hinkle, his daughter Ann Marie Hinkle, and his grandson Brian. He is survived by his sons Richard (Marta) and Ryan Hinkle, and his daughters Renee Brock (Blaine) and Laura Smith (Brad). Austin leaves behind 17 grandchildren: Caleb (Clara), Joshua (Rachel), Rose (Tyler), River, Bethany (Josh), Adam (Alyssa), Rae, Rebekah (Sterling), Naomi, Sarah, Lydia, Austin (Carly), Andrew, Nathan (Sara), Kenny (Lis), Dylan, and Breanne. He also had 12 great grandchildren: Evelynn, Daniel, Chloe, Sophie, Ezra, Ruth, Hallie, Wesley, Easton, Sawyer, Nolan and Tyler.

Austin was born in Richwood, West Virginia on 30 July 1938 to Woodrow Hinkle and Burgess Margaret Chapman. Raised in the hills of West Virginia Austin developed a tough, can-do attitude and an independence that was only tamed by his faith and his loving wife, Susan. Austin was raised primarily by his father as his mother began suffering from severe bouts of epilepsy which started not long after he was born. She eventually was hospitalized when Austin was just 8 years old. He loved his mother deeply and wept openly when he would speak of her. Austin admired his father and spoke often of his devotion to family and his uncaring attitude about the material things of life.

Austin earned his way in this life by working in a number of difficult careers. These included: logging, mining, road building, and as a mechanic. As a mechanic he worked servicing and repairing mining equipment, industrial machinery and even personal vehicles. He even owned his own “service station” for a short time when living in Oregon. These careers took their toll on him physically and eventually, when he could no longer do those jobs physically, Austin tried his hand at residential and commercial mortgage processing. This lasted just a few years for many reasons but a desk job was just not his way. He spent the final 2 years of his work career working with Susan as the camp hosts for a KOA campground up Nephi Canyon.

Austin was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 17 years old. He was introduced to the missionaries by a young lady he wanted to date and though he was happy to meet with them he was determined to convince them they were wrong. But the Lord had other ideas and soon Austin gained a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith. His testimony of these things would define much of his life from that time forward.

Austin’s service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints included numerous positions, but the highlights of his service included: serving 2 missions together with Susan (one to Ukraine and another serving immigrants in downtown Salt Lake City), serving as a Branch President in West Virginia and as Bishop in Sandy, Utah, he served with Susan for many years in both the Jordan River and Manti temples. One of the last things Austin was determined to do in this life, be there with his granddaughter Naomi as she went to the temple for her own endowment. He attended with her just 4 days before he passed.

Austin’s self-reliance showed in his ability to build. He built Susan a home in West Virginia starting from the ground up. But because of hard times, he had to leave this home behind the very day that it was being finished. As he told it, “the missionaries were helping finish the deck in the back at the same time Susan and the girls were moving things into a truck out the front.” In his final years he enjoyed a love for wood working and was grateful to have a workshop where he could go to “Tinker” whenever he had the energy.

Although not perfect, Austin strived to be an example of hard work, trusting the Lord and learning from life’s challenges. Although he wished he had done more for his older children, he loved them and was grateful to see them finding joy in life as he visited with them in the end. He will be missed by those who know him.

A viewing will be held on Feb. 20th from 9:30-10:30 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 6986 W McQuiston Avenue, Herriman, Utah. His funeral will follow at 11:00 am.

A graveside service will be held the same day at the Moroni Cemetery at 4:00 PM in Moroni, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Fund in memory of Austin and Susan.