John Hinton

John P. Hinton, 75, passed away on October 9, 2022, surrounded by his wife, three daughters, and loved ones. John, an avid gardener who described himself as a ‘farm boy’, was born in Mechanicsburg, Ohio on December 13, 1946 to his parents Joe and Elizabeth Hinton.

Throughout his life, John was a competitive but humble athlete. He is a graduate from Ohio Wesleyan University where he was a Delta Tau Delta fraternity member and played basketball. He holds a master’s degree in education from Xavier University.

After his first teaching job at Urbana, Ohio school district, John moved to the Sandusky-area where he had a long career at Perkins High School as a guidance counselor, cross-country, and track coach. Coach Hinton’s teams and runners achieved local, state, and national acclaim, including winning three consecutive state championships in cross country between 1987 and 1989. John coached with empathy and authenticity, contributing to the teams’ successes, as well as the strong bonds of friendship that emerged among the runners. In 1994 he was inducted into the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.

Community and charity were important to John, and he gave back in small acts of kindness every day. John was a member of the Huron Yacht Club where he contributed greatly to the beautification of the grounds. He was also a member of the Sandusky Exchange Club, the Eagles Club, and a founding member of the Firelands Area Runners Club.

John is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis Hinton; his daughters, Emily Hinton, Megan Hinton, and Kallie Hinton; brother, James Hinton; and niece, Tara Hinton.

Viewing and visiting hours will be held on Thursday, October 13 from 10am – 12pm at Foster Funeral Home & Crematory, 410 Main St., Huron 44839 followed by a service at the United Methodist Church, 338 Williams St., Huron at 12:15pm. Private burial services will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society at www.donate.cancer.org.

Foster Funeral Home & Crematory, Huron, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.fosterfh.com.

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