James Rinker

JAMES RINKER

1926-2016

James Raymond Rinker, 89, passed away at home quietly in his sleep on August 5, 2016 after a brief illness.

He was born August 27, 1926 in Los Angeles.  Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Napa and he resided there for the rest of his life.  Jim attended Napa schools and left early in his senior year to join the Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor.  He was involved in seven major Pacific battles and also witnessed the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima.  After returning home from the war, he met the love of his life, Myrtle Bell Johnson of Sonoma.  They were married August 22, 1948.  They settled in Napa as Jim started working for Pacific Bell Telephone Company.  He eventually became a supervisor and retired in 1983 after 37 years of employment.

Jim's favorite things were vacations to Hawaii and taking cruises with his wife.  He enjoyed the outdoors and could often be found with a golf club or fishing pole in his hands.  He also loved hearing the sound of the slot machines as he considered them music to his ears.

In 2002, Jim was one of the first veterans in Napa County to receive his delayed High School Diploma due to entering the service prior to his graduation.  In 2009, he and other veterans from Napa took the WWII Freedom  Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the WWII memorials.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Myrtle; children, Robert (Gail) Rinker, Vacaville, Sharon (Larry) Warren, Clear Lake, Ken (Claudia) Rinker, Napa and Mike (Karen) Rinker, Napa; eleven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his twin brother, Eugene, Yuma, Arizona.  He is predeceased by his sons, Jimmy and Steven and daughter, JoAnn.  Nothing made him happier than family gatherings and his loving wife was always by his side.  He will forever be missed by his family and many friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11am on Monday August 15, 2016 in the Tulocay Chapel.  Donations may be made in Jim's honor to the charity of your choice.  Memories and words of sympathy may be shared with the family on-line at www.tulocaycemetery.org. 

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