PERU, Ind. – Edward Weldon Binkerd, 84, Grace Village, Winona Lake, passed away in the presence of his family at 6:24 a.m. Oct. 24, 2013, at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw. He was born Aug. 25, 1929, in Bunker Hill, to Andrew W. and Goldie M. Binkerd. He was married for 40 years to Arlene M. Binkerd, who passed away July 2, 1997. “Bink,” as he was so well known, was a service manager in the automotive industry at several local dealerships, retiring from Canal Ford in 1994. He was a 1947 graduate of Peru High School, served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1953 in the Korean War, from which he was honorably discharged. He was trained by GM as well as Ford Motor Company, both in Detroit. He was a highly skilled mechanic who eventually moved into management where he was employed for more than 39 years. He loved serving the public and always tried to do what was right for the customer. Many of his customers became lifelong friends. He was an avid Indy and NASCAR fan and rooted locally for the Maconaquah Braves, Peru Tigers and his beloved Hoosiers of I.U. His hobbies included basketball, boxing, camping, carpentry, dancing, festivals, fishing, football, gardening, hunting, listening to country and polka music, mushroom hunting, racing, riding motorcycles, snowmobiling and woodworking. He loved to cook, and enjoyed planning meals for friends and family. He also served the Boy Scouts of America and as a Scoutmaster for the Parkview United Methodist Troop of the Sagamore Council, and contributed to the lives of many young men and their fathers. In his early years he was a clown in the Peru Circus. In his later years he took care of his ailing friends, taking many of them to their doctors’ appointments, and helping them accomplish tasks around their homes when help was needed. He was always willing to give automotive advice when asked and to go the “second mile” for his friends. He grew up in the Peru Grace Brethren Church and attended many Bible conferences with his family in the summers in Winona Lake. He did not walk with the Lord for much of his adult life, but in his later years seemed to realize the importance of his relationship with the living Lord, and professed to claim Him as his saviour. He would be the first to say that he was not proud of many of the things he did, but realized he was forgiven by his heavenly Father whose presence he is in at this very moment. Surviving are four children: Greg Edward (and spouse Kimberle) Binkerd, Warsaw; Tammy and Todd Binkerd, both of Peru; and Tracy Batchler, Terre Haute; five grandchildren: Shannon Binkerd, Jewel Horton, Jana Burdick, Korey Miller and Dakota Batcher; a great-grandson, Jordan Miller; and three siblings, Berniece Bebout, and Lois and Andrew Binkerd. He also was preceded in death by a grandson, Aaron Wayne Binkerd, who served in the U.S. Navy. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Flowers Leedy Funeral Home, Peru, with Pastor J. Robert Clark officiating. Burial will be in Ever Rest Memorial Park in Cass County beside his wife. Calling is from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to Miami Co. Military Organization and Grace Village, both c/o Flowers Leedy Funeral Home, 105 W. Third St., Peru, IN 46970.
