Obituary: Lion Merl Tinkey, Akron Lions Club

[PDG Paul Russell]

Merl Tinkey Obituary

Merl A. Tinkey, 91, of Akron, passed at 1:15 a.m., Sunday, March 22, 2026, at Peabody Retirement Community of North Manchester.

Merl was born July 23, 1934, in Claypool, to the late Clarence L. and Cleo A. (Jones) Tinkey. He was a 1952 graduate of Burket High School. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956.

He married Linda Youndt Spolski Nov. 8, 1980, in Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania, and she survives. Merl spent his career with Sonoco Products Company of Akron, serving as the business unit manager for North America. He retired after 40 years of dedicated service.

Merl was a longtime member of the Akron United Methodist Church, where he served for many years on the board and as trustee chairman. He was also an active member of the Akron Lions Club and was honored with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. His commitment to community extended further through his service on the Woodlawn Hospital Board, the Fulton County Community Foundation and the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation.

He loved to travel, and Italy held a special place in his heart. After retiring, he spent five months in Australia working for Sonoco. Merl enjoyed fishing, hunting, and even found joy in mowing numerous lawns, which he did three days a week. He took great pride in looking after Dave's car washes – often checking on them multiple times a day. He could be found in Mentone checking on the car wash and stopping in to get a latte at Java Jacks. One of his first retirement projects was digging a large pond and stocking it with fish. He was also a lifelong Notre Dame football fan.

He is survived by his wife Linda Tinkey of Akron; son Brett and wife Lori Tinkey of St. Joseph, Michigan, and David and wife Paula Spolski of Claypool; daughter Lichelle and husband Jeff Moyer of Harrisburg, Penn.; six grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Merl was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Peggy and husband Garwin Eaton and Shirley and husband Larry Polk, and brothers Richard John"Dickie" Tinkey and Norman and wife Rozella Tinkey.

Friends and family may gather for memorial visitation from 9:30-11 a.m., Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Akron United Methodist Church, Akron.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Akron United Methodist Church 121 N. Mishawaka St., Akron, Indiana ,with Pastor Eric Shafer officiating. Military honors will be held to remember his service to our country.

His future final remembrance place will be in the Akron Cemetery, Akron.

Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to Akron United Methodist Church, Beaver Dam Church – memo to Wheels on Fire to assist the community members who are fighting cancer, or Akron Lions Club.

Share a memory or send an online condolence at: www.hartzlerfuneral services.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Rochester Sentinel on Mar. 25, 2026.