Don L. Tinkham

Don L. Tinkham, 72, of New Haven, Indiana, passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Parkview Regional Medical Center.

He was born on February 25, 1952 in Decatur, Indiana to the late Maurice Leroy Tinkham and Patricia (Williams) Tinkham.

Don was united in marriage to Beth Jaques on February 20, 1999 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Don was a member of the F.O.P.A #6 for over 30 years in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the longest serving and most recent President in the history of the associate lodge.

He was a 1970 graduate of Adams Central High School. Following high school he earned an associate’s degree in business management. He owned and operated Bestline Snacks with his wife for 27 years and retired in 2010. Bestline Snacks had a distribution radius of 150 miles from Fort Wayne which enabled Don to establish relationships with many customers which then became friends. One notable event in his career occurred when he befriended the owner of Jack Links Beef Jerky, enabling that brand to be distributed in Indiana for the first time.

Don enjoyed working on late model race cars, which would be driven by his brother Dave… which created quite a tandem. 

He is survived by his spouse, Beth Tinkham of New Haven, Indiana; brother, David Tinkham of Monroe, Indiana; and sister, Nancy Heckert of Monroe, Indiana.

Funeral services for Don will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Homes, Decatur with Pastor Jim Compton officiating.

Family and friends will be received from 3:00 p.m. until the service time on Wednesday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur.

A FOP Memorial Ceremony will be conducted at a later time at Tricker Cemetery.

Preferred memorials are to the family. (Checks payable to Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes)