FRANKLIN – David Leslie Hina, 82, passed away peacefully of natural causes at his home in Franklin on March 8, 2021. At the time of his passing, David was surrounded by his loved ones and comforted by the continual presence of his wife, Bonnie Jo Hina.
Born on Jan. 19, 1939 in Ridgewood, New Jersey, David was raised as the precocious firstborn son of Alice and Alfred Carl Heine. From an early age, it was evident that David had a remarkable capacity for resourcefulness. After an education largely acquired from purchased “how-to” books and manuals, David became a remarkable craftsman and carpenter at an early age, designing and building two family homes almost entirely without assistance. This capacity for industriousness would color his professional life as well. After the completion of a business college degree program, David was soon employed as a purchasing manager for both Lockheed Martin and ITT Corporation, where he oversaw contracts for aerospace and industrial markets.
In addition to his vocational accomplishments, David also showed a great affinity for several domestic hobbies. One of his passions was model railroading – a passion made evident by a stack of Model Railroader magazines that could be found in every family bathroom. Fortunately for his family, David also proved to be an exceedingly competent cook. Some of his more famous dishes included “pepper steak,” an Asian dish upon which he put a remarkably American spin, and his famous apple pie which remains unmatched in the annals of family history. David even tried his hand at needle and thread, stitching together a homemade “great white” shark costume for his son, Joshua, during one particularly eventful New Jersey Halloween.
While David’s final years were physically challenging, he was always comforted by his deep and abiding faith. He wished to experience God joyfully and abundantly, and with the assistance of his wife, Bonnie, he was able to meet that objective. Perhaps his faith in God can best be expressed in one of his favorite biblical passages from the Book of Romans: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
David was preceded in death by his second wife, Brenda Hina. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Hina; six children, David Troy Hina (Cheryl), Tara Hosie (Joseph), Noelle Hina, Kim Leonardo (Nicholas), Tyler Faetz (Melissa), and Joshua Hina (Caitlyn); ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service and “celebration of life” will be held at a later date to be determined in order to accommodate extended family and friends.
Bryant-Grant Funeral Home will be serving the Hina family. Condolences may be made at bryantgrantfuneralhome.com