Samuel Laing Hinson, Jr., Colonel, USAF (ret), died April 11, 2015. Born Sept. 1, 1919, he was raised in Albany, Ga., the youngest of seven children. He attended North Georgia College, where he met Bernice "Happy" Griffin, his beloved wife of 67 years. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1942 and remained a life-long Bulldog fan.
After graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army Air Corps, embarking on an Air Force career that spanned 27 years. Sam and Happy were married in 1944 and moved through 13 duty stations, including Newfoundland, Alaska, Scotland and Germany. His last assignment was at the Pentagon and they settled in the Mt. Vernon community.
Sam was fascinated with the intricacies of real estate development, and upon retirement from the Air Force in 1969, he founded S. L. Hinson Associates. Initially developing projects in upstate N.Y. and Alexandria, Va., Sam was thrilled when both of his children were able to join him in his new career. The firm that bears his name remains active in commercial real estate development throughout northern Virginia, while retaining its roots with the ownership Mt. Vernon Nursing and Rehab Center and the Mt. Vernon Professional Center.
Sam was predeceased by his wife Happy in 2011. He is survived by his children Linda Holliman (Chuck) and S. Laing Hinson (Enid); his grandchildren Gray Adams of Colo.; Mandy Adams Melby (Dirk) of Colo.; Matt Hinson (Sarah) of N.C.; S. Bond Hinson of Tenn.; Claire Hinson Rodriguez (Joey) of Texas; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held April 17 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church, 8220 Russell Road, Alexandria VA 22309.