William "Bill" Tinsley

William David “Bill” Tinsley, 89, Topeka, went home to his Lord and to his wife of 64 years, Bernice Mary Tinsley, on January 18, 2013. Bill was born February 26, 1923 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Maude Alice Williams Tinsley and William Henry Dowdall. He attended schools in the St. Louis area. He married Bernice Mary Koper on June 29, 1946 at St. Liborious Catholic Church in St. Louis. She preceeded him in death, December 10, 2010. A veteran of WWII, Bill served in the Army Signal Corp., Air Force Cadets and as a Navigational Radar Maintenance Man. Bill was an avid sportsman, especially enjoying playing softball, basketball, hunting, fishing and pinochle. He was a Golden Gloves boxer in the Army and at age 53 he pitched a perfect game in City League Softball. He participated in Senior Olympics. Bill worked 43 years in the newspaper industry for St. Louis Post Dispatch, San Francisco Chronicle, Idaho Statesman and Montana Standard. He retired in 1987 from the Topeka Capital Journal and had been general foreman of the mail room. He was a staunch adherent in the labor movement and served as a president of a local union of the International Typographical Union. In retirement he worked at the YMCA. Preceding him in death were his parents, brothers Eugene Tinsley, Horace T. Tinsley and sister, Marion E. McDonald and a son, Michael E. Tinsley. Survivors are children, Rita Summers, Indianapolis, IN., Anne (Barry) Stark, West Chicago IL, Robert Tinsley, Baltimore, MD., David (Jenny) Tinsley, Gerard (Debra) Tinsley, William Tinsley, Catherine (Michael) Halpin, Barbara (Scott) DeWalt, James (Kellee) Tinsley, all of Topeka; eighteen grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A rosary will be prayed at 5:30 p.m. Tues. at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd., Topeka, Kansas, 66614, where family will greet friends until 7:30 p.m. A celebration of Bill’s life will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with burial following at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Topeka, Kansas. VFW Post #1650 will conduct military honors at the cemetery. Memorial remembrances may be made to Birthright of Topeka or Midland Hospice Care, sent in care of the funeral home. Cards of condolence may be sent in care of 4340 SE 28th St., Topeka, Kansas, 66605.

William "Bill" Tinsley

February 26, 1923 - January 22, 2013