Oscar Byrne Tinney, Jr.

 

 

 

Oscar Byrne Tinney, Jr., 89, of Rebel's Creek in Mitchell County died on October 12th after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his wife of 59

years, Wilma Howell Tinney, also of Rebels Creek, and seven siblings.

 

He is survived by three children. Nancy of Long Island, New York, Alan of Penland in Mitchell County, and Elizabeth, also of Rebel's Creek. Also surviving are his brother George, of West Virginia, his grandson, Matthew Tinney of Burnsville, his granddaughter, Erin Crouse, of Charleston, South Carolina, two great-grandchildren, Samantha and Jacob, 10 nephews and nieces and their descendants.

 

Hewas born and raised in Elkins, West Virginia, the 7th of eight children born to Oscar Tinney, and his wife, Clara Halstead Tinney, in 1930. After graduating high school, he became the only member of his family to attend college by enrolling at Berea College in Kentucky,

graduatingwith a bachelor's degree in Spanish in 1952. While there, he met Wilma Howell from Rebel's Creek, who was also the first member of her family to attend college. They were married in Berea's Danforth Chapel in April of 1952. During the summer between his Junior and Senior years in college, and having never traveled anywhere, he hitchhiked to Mexico City in Mexico to immerse himself in a Spanish-speaking culture!

 

After graduation, Byrne enlisted in the Air Force and became a 'lifer', serving his country for the next 23 years. He was posted to Spain and the Panama Canal Zone, and to various States from Mississippi to North Dakota. After retiring as a chief Master Sergeant in 1975, he worked as a sales representative marketing electronic equipment in Latin America.

 

In 1977, he moved to Mitchell County to join the administrative staff at Penland School of Craft. In 1982, he and Wilma moved to Chapel Hill and enrolled at UNC, where she finished her bachelor's degree and he earned his master's and Ph.D in Romance languages, specializing in Central American literature. He remained there for several years as a adjunct instructor, serving more than once as program director for the junior year abroad program in Seville, Spain, where he and Wilma got reacquainted with old friends from their time living near Seville in the 1960's. They retired to Rebels Creek in 1997.

 

Byrne was also a ham radio operator who spent hundreds of happy hours chatting with other hams all over the world. He used that hobby socially and for emergencies helping other people communicate and track down loved ones. He was also an emcee and translator for the southern command band while in the Canal Zone. He was a creative amateur photographer and also sang shaped notes and gospel music in numerous choirs and churches and Military chapels. His sense of humor was indomitable especially in word play. Nothing was so sacrosanct that it could not be joked about. He will be sorely missed by his many friends and his family.

 

Those who wish to make a donation in his memory are welcome to contribute to the Mitchell County Animal Rescue with the family's thanks.

 

Graveside Memorial services will be Sunday, January 5th, at 2 p.m., at Rebels Creek Cemetery, off Highway 80 north in Mitchell County. There will be full military honors. In case of bad weather, it will be held at Rebel's Creek Baptist Church