Howard Hinkley Jr.

 

A little red-headed baby boy was born on May 8th, 1945. He was named William Howard Hinkley, Jr.

When he was around eight years old his Grandmother Molly gave him a guitar. He sat in his bedroom, learned to play his guitar and sang. I'm sure his grandmother had several moments when she wished she hadn't given him the guitar .

His break came when he auditioned for Lee Mace's Ozark Opray at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. He got the job with Lee that he'd been so afraid of auditioning for. He worked for Lee about 12 years. He was the lead singer when the show was playing and when they'd go on tour.

He was also part of the opening act for stars such as Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Paycheck, Tammy Wynette and many others.

Howard took a couple of years off from singing to serve his country in Vietnam. When he came home from Vietnam Lee put him back to work as the lead singer.

Howard decided, after about twelve years in the music business, it was time for him to retire from music and help raise his children. He went to work for Roadway Express and has been there for twenty-nine years.

It was during this period that Howard met his wife, Flora, and she began helping him with his songwriting, which is a passion of his.

The first song they wrote together was 'YOU'RE ALL I'M NEEDIN' FOR CHRISTMAS', which is on one of their latest CDs. John Davidson, of Broadway and television fame, sang that song on TNN on television and he recorded a couple of Howard and Flora's songs on his stage show.

Howard and Flora have won several songwriting contests and Howard still has his great vocals (that's what John said about them). Howard's doing the producing on their CDs. We think you'll really enjoy all of them.

Co-writer

Flora Hinkley Howard Hinkley Music

Co-founder

Ch Ruedesheim's Gamblin' Man, aka Budman, aka Buddy SugarBud's Miniature Schnauzers

Co-Writer

Howard Hinkley Howard Hinkley Music

Howard at the Ozark Opry

Howard and Rhonda Vincent at the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival in 2006

Howard at Lee Mace's Graveside

Howard and Terry Smith (Nashville songwriter/entertainer)
Wm. Howard Hinkley, Jr.
Wm. Howard Hinkley Jr. of Springfield Mo. passed away April 15, 2010. Howard was born on May 8, 1945 in Fulton, Mo., to Wm. Howard Hinkley Sr. and Goldie Wilfley Hinkley. He was preceded in death by his parents; and 2 half-brothers, Norman David and Ray David. He is survived by his loving wife, Flora of Springfield Mo.; children, Michael Hinkley and his fiance Brook Cantrell of Marshfield Mo., Sara Hinkley of Springfield Mo., Tony and Sheri Bunch of Claremore, Okla., and Shelly and Roger Rackers of New Bloomfield, Mo.; 11 grandchildren, Leigh An Sjule, Jenna and Alyssa Hinkley, Alex Hinkley, Selena and Celeste Bunch, Riley, McKenna and Hunter Rackers, Jade Medlock and Tracker Hamilton; and 1 step-sister, Carolyn Arnold of Steelville, Mo. Howard, a.k.a. 'Wild Mouse', retired from Roadway Express last year after working thirty years as a transport operator. He served in the U.S. Army, doing combat duty, in 1967 and 1968. He was a member of the Webster county Masonic Lodge since 1979. Howard was a singer, musician and entertainer at Lee Maces' Ozark Opry, at Lake of the Ozarks, for more than twelve years. Howard loved being called 'Papa Howard' and being with his grandchildren and wife, Flower Girl, almost as much as he loved taking 'Sam' his dog, for rides. Howard loved so many things in his life: meeting new friends and seeing family, making people laugh and enjoy life, helping anybody or thing that needed help, flying planes, playing and singing music with his friends, writing songs, booklets and poems and being playful.  Howard will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

 

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