Arthur Jakup Dinkins

Arthur Jakup Dinkins, 94, of Akron passed away 01 July 2020 after battling constant infections; and ultimately CDIF.

Originally from the farmland of Indiana, "Jake" or "Bud" as he was called by family members, joined the Army at the beginning of WW II, serving as an expert marksman in some rough places, to include the Ardennes. He earned three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart after being wounded by a phosphorous grenade. Remarking recently about how much he hated being poked with needles, he added that when he was wounded in WW II they threw him on a truck with a bunch of other wounded guys and the combat medic started prepping him for morphine, Jake said "but I don't need no Morphine!!" "Too bad" the medic yelled, "everybody is getting Morphine, that's the rules!!" "That was the Army," he grinned.

After his tour with the Army, Jake went on to retire as a Chief Aviation Machinist III from the Navy, serving during both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was assigned on both the USS Independence and the USS Midway. In 2018 he was awarded the Legion of Honor medal by the French government for his participation in the liberation of France from German occupation. The French representative pointing at the French flag hanging in the room said to Jake, "that flag would not be standing there, if you men had not come to save us."

Between his military services he met and married Annie Kate Alderson, who survives him. Annie and "Dink" as she called him; seems no one called him Arthur, were together for 64 years. They had four children, Biff, Katie, Steve, and Susan. He is also survived by his daughter Dru and stepdaughter Sonya. He leaves behind his sisters Betty and Patty, and his brother Bob, along with numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He is loved and is missed.

Jake will be laid to rest with military honors at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 1 p.m. Per the cemetery, anyone attending must wear a mask.