Gregory Scott Hinton
(fondly referred to by friends as “Mailman”)

Greg was deeply loved and respected as a husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend.

He was a proud graduate of Valparaiso University receiving two degrees, one in political science and the other in geography, class of 1974.

After working for the I.R.S. for a brief period he then transferred to the U.S.P.S. where he continued to serve as a dedicated mail carrier in LeRoy, IL for many years.

He then enjoyed his retirement where Greg’s passion for sports, music, trains, family, good friends and good times filled his life.

The following email posted by a close friend says it all (Thanks Pete!):

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we mourn the passing of one of our own. Our comrade Greg “Mailman” Hinton has lost the fight and succumbed to organ failure stemming from Lewy Body Dementia...or what many of us would call unnaturally, natural causes.

Mailman was our friend, our neighbor and a voice of reason.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. We all will miss him as a peer and a contemporary.

We will miss his integrity, his humility AND his idiosyncrasies.

We will miss his Bloody Mary’s, his taste in classic rock, his fondness for the ponies.

We will miss his fervent love of sports including the Yankee’s, fantasy football and all things. Valparaiso.

We will miss his grand prognosticating.

We will miss buying him a Coca Cola or a Budweiser, or bumming him a smoke.

We will miss his well-traveled stories and his hippy inclinations.

We will miss his wonderful command of the language and the lexicon that was mostly his own with phrases like “Stunning”, “Just like stealin”, and “Benchbuster”. They were his. They are ours now too.

It brings a smile to OUR face to hear that there was a knowing smile on HIS face, as the bugler played “First Call” for the Kentucky Derby the day before he passed and that his last sips of Budweiser came during the race itself. That day was also his daughter’s anniversary and that, according to jean, you could tell there was no way in hell he was going to let go and bring down the festivities that day.

No, he stubbornly held on just one more night.

Life is unfair, and the last six – eight months have been the ultimate reminder. We watched the man we knew deteriorate into something he was not...and know that now, he is in a better place.

We toast your life Mailman, unafraid to shed tear in your honor...my friend.

We are all better people for having known you...my friend.

Farewell indeed....my friend.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047, 404-935-6444.