“We have lost a good man. Matthew David Hinkin succumbed to his 16-year battle with Parkinsons Disease, March 16th, 2026, at the age of 62 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a good and faithful servant leader, dedicated to his family and the Knoxville community.”

Matt was born September 23, 1963, at Commanche County Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma, the sixth child of Paul Edwin Hinkin and Mabel Agnes (Wesson) Hinkin. He quickly started his traveling career in this Army family, moving to British Army post Rhiendahlen, West Germany at age 5 months, with later stops in New York City, Salina, Kansas, Great Falls, Montana, and finally Manhattan, Kansas in 1974. Matt graduated from Manhattan High School (MHS) in 1981. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio and Television Journalism from Kansas State University in 1985 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Meteorology at the University of Kansas in 1989.

Matt always had musical interests, singing in various choirs at MHS and Kansas State as well as playing the sousaphone in the marching band at both schools. For many years, he was an active member of the acapella vocal group Streetside. After college, he toured coast to coast for a year with the Christian singing group, The Continental Singers. Matt was an excellent junior golfer, an interest he kept throughout the years. His professional broadcasting career started with Manhattan High and K-State sports for KSDB, the student radio station at Kansas State, and then he went on to television news and sports at KSNF TV, Joplin, Missouri. Finding his true love in meteorology, he went to KU while doing weekend weather for KSNT 27 in Topeka. His real start in weather came when he accepted a job at WATE TV 6 in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1990. 32 years later, he retired in 2022. At WATE, he became East Tennessee’s most beloved weatherman. He had several other interests, including the Knoxville Zoo, the Emerald Youth Project, Grace Baptist Church, the PJ The Parkinson’s Foundation, and visiting many local schools to talk about the weather.

Matt married Deborah Annette Jack on August 15, 1992, in Knoxville. They welcomed their son Joshua David Hinkin in 2000. Debbie was lost in a car accident in November 2020.

Matt is survived by his son: Joshua of Knoxville; mother: Mabel; brother: Douglas P. Hinkin (spouse Maureen, and children Sarah, Christopher, Katelyn, Abby) of Manhattan, Kansas; sister: Beth Ann Cartner (spouse Bruce and sons Adam, Chad, Sean) of Anna, Texas; brother: Lawrence W. Hinkin (children Daniel, Kristin) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Barbara J. Setter (spouse Ralph and sons Sam, Peter) of Omaha, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his father: Paul; brother: Daniel T. Hinkin (spouse Eileen and children Stephen, Micheal, Erin).

The family gives thanks for the heartfelt care and compassion shown by all those who have supported Matt during his journey home. They can’t list you all, but you know who you are. Lady B, Marilyn, Karen, Tammy, the Grace Baptist family especially the ‘small group’ and the Wednesday night supper guys, Emory Mills Assisted Living staff, Isabel Senft-Daniel at PJ Parkinsons, Shalom Hospice and especially his private caretaker Kim Busby.

The family will receive visitors at Grace Baptist Church, 7171 Oak Ridge Highway, Knoxville from 10 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026 with a funeral service to follow at noon. A private Celebration of Life gathering will follow. Private interment will be at a later date.

Memorials can be made to the Matt Hinkin Legacy Donor Advised Charitable Fund at The East Tennessee Foundation. 525 Portland Street, Knoxville, 37919, or www.EastTennesseeFoundation.org or PJ Parkinsons Support at https://www.pjparkinsons.org/, or Grace Baptist Church gracebc.org/give.

Online condolences may be left at www.mynattfh.com.

Mynatt Funeral Home Chapel in Powell, Tennessee is serving the family of Matthew David Hinkin.