James Laverne Rinker

James Laverne Rinker, age 81, of 731 McCarty Ridge Road, Forksville, PA, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at the Williamsport Hospital with his loving family at his side. Jim was born April 5, 1935 in New Albany, PA., a son of the late Frederick Donald & Freda Cott Rinker. He graduated from the Loyalsock Joint High School, Estella, PA., in 1953. On November 23, 1955 he married Ann Louise Cott at the Elkland Reformed Church. Louise predeceased him on August 11, 2015 after 60 years of marriage. Jim was a baseball player and worked out with the Williamsport A’s and then went to Brunswick, Georgia and tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Team as a first baseman. When he returned home, he suffered a farming accident which unfortunately ended his baseball career. Jim began farming on his uncle Victor Cott’s dairy farm and in 1956 he purchased the farm and ran it until 1966, when he switched to raising beef cattle until 1999. While farming in 1957 he began as a sawyer for the McCarty & Driscoll Mill and the Ketchum & Bown Mill. In 1972 Jim began working for the Rural Electric Cooperative in Forksville, PA, where he was a machine operator and lineman. He retired from the R.E.C. in 1997. In 1990 Jim opened up his own mill known as Rinker Mill on his farm and operated it until 2006. Jim was a member of the Forksville United Methodist Church, The Evergreen Lodge #163 F. & A.M., the Williamsport Consistory, and the Danville Moose. He was a former member of the Farmer’s Union. He served as a Sullivan County Commissioner from 1968 to 1972. He was also an Elkland Township Supervisor for 18 years. He also was the chairman of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee for 11 years and was one of the founders and a lifetime member of The Eldredsville Fire Company. Surviving: two sons: Jack (Kathy) Dymond of Dushore, PA., & Anthony James (Sue) Rinker, of Elverson, PA; one daughter: Linda Ellen (John) Lazur, of Selinsgrove, PA; six grandchildren, Jason Purdy (John Boyer) of New York City, Alycia Lazur of Allison Park, Natalie Dymond, US Navy, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, Katelyn Kreamer (Shane) of Troxelville and AJ and Ava Rinker of Elverson; a great grandson, Aiden Michael Kreamer; two brothers: Carlton (Gloria) Rinker, of Claysburg, PA., & Robert (Vivian) Rinker, of Lebanon, OR; a sister-in law: Dorothy (Malyn) Norton, of Shunk, PA. He is also survived numerous nieces & nephews. Jim’s family especially wishes to thank the staff and administrators at Darway Elder Care for the wonderful loving care they gave Jim during his stay this past year. They are also appreciative of the many friends, family and acquaintances who visited him at Darway. A visitation will be held at the Forksville United Methodist Church on Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 9:30 A.M. with the funeral at 11:00 A.M. with his Pastor Linda Renninger, officiating. Burial will follow at the Friends Cemetery in Elkland Township The family will provide the flowers and ask that memorial contributions in Jim’s memory be sent to the Forksville United Methodist Church, PO Box 27, Forksville, PA 18616 or the Eldredsville Fire Co., % Terri Torluccio, 402 Route 4007, Forksville, PA 18616 Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA 18614 To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Laverne Rinker, please visit our flower store.