Frank Joseph Hink

Frank Joseph Hink, was born in Odebolt, IA on December 8, 1941, and passed away on October 05, 2024, at the age of 82 in at the VA Hospice Unit in Albuquerque, NM. Fr. Francis Bijoy gave Frank his Last Rights, and the nurses gave him a beautiful military service.

Frank joined the Navy on October 18, 1960. He was stationed in on the USS Firedrake (AE14), then on to the USS Tallahatchie County (AVB-2) home ported in Naples, Italy. Two years later he was off to Vietnam on board the USS Sphinx (ARL-24, home ported on the Me Cong Delta), one of the very few USS ships painted camouflaged green. After one year without liberty traveling up and down the Me Cong, moving everyday so that the Viet Cong couldn't set up mortars, some days moving only one mile, Frank requested Diving School.

In 1968, Frank was off to Subic Bay for Second Class Diving School. In 1969 orders to SRF in Subic Bay for duty. He was ready to leave Subic Bay, and in 1972 he got orders to NEDU In Washington, DC.

Frank met Margaret Rael from New Mexico in 1973. They got married at the Naval Chapel in Washington, DC. Six months later he received orders to the USS Simon Lake in Rota, Spain.

Frank spent 4 years working on submarines and tried to learn Spanish. In June of 1979 he got orders to NEDU, he and Cris Whorton installed Fire Suppression tanks. While on the third deck, they rebuilt the medical deck with four-inch steel pipe and steel beams, making it strong enough to hold a forklift.

After 3 years at NEDU and 22 years in the Navy, Frank retired in 1982.

He re-enlisted in 1983. He was assigned to NEDU again in Panama City, FL. In 1984 he got orders to the USS Ortolan (AS-22) in Charleston, SC. Then back to NEDU in Panama City, FL where he retired in 1992.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernadine and Francis Hink. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; sisters, Donna Funke, Kent WA, Pauline Vauble, Sac City IA, Mary, Oxendale, Ode Bolt, IA; and brother, Richard Hink (Carol) Ankney IA, many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.

A Rosary will be held on Monday, October 21st, 2024, beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 10:00 a.m., at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, 5712 Paradise Blvd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87114. Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM at 1:30 p.m.