Jared S. Hinckley

Jared Strong Hinckley, 89, of Lebanon, died Saturday April 5, 2003 following several years of declining health. His beloved wife Dorothy (Smith) Hinckley predeceased him in April 2000. Known to family friends and colleagues as "Jed", Hinckley was employed as an Internal Revenue Service collection agent for more than 30 years. Upon retirement he continued his interest in financial matters by serving as Lebanon Tax Collector. A graduate of the Class of 1931 of Lyman Memorial High School in Lebanon, he received a degree in accounting from Bentley College in Waltham, MA. In 1936 he ran for and was elected first selectman of Lebanon, receiving the endorsement of both Democratic and Republican parties. At the time of his service, he was the youngest person ever elected first selectman in the state of Connecticut. During W.W.2 he served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army. Following the war he became a lifelong member of American Legion Post 180, holding the position of commander for two terms. His community activities also included lifetime membership in the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Dept., service on the Board of Education and participation on three school building committees. He and his wife were among the founding members of the Lebanon Historical Society. He also served on the Board of Corporators of the Willimantic Savings Institute. A lifetime resident of Lebanon, he was among the seventh generation of Hinckleys to make the town their home. Born on his family's farm on Goshen Hill he made his first home with his wife on Liberty Hill, eventually building a new home in 1946 on Village Hill. An avid gardener, his roadside flower gardens for many years attracted admiring comments from passersby on Rte. 289. He leaves his daughter Connie, his brother Harold, his sister in law Myrtle Barden, 11 nieces, 2 nephews, as well as several grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. During his declining years he was lovingly cared for by his nieces Barbara Drum and Shirley Spellacy. His funeral service will be held on Thursday at 2:00pm in the Goshen Congregational Church, Lebanon. Burial will follow in the New Lebanon Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers friends may remember him through contributions to the Jared S. Hinckley Scholarship Fund at Lyman Memorial High School, 917 Exeter Rd., Lebanon, Ct. 06249, Attn: Linda Heatherly.