Services for Robert Russell Jinright, 85, of Thomasville, are at 11 a.m., Friday, March 28, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church where he was a member, deacon and elder. The Rev. Dr. David Dorst will officiate. Mr. Jinright passed away March 25 at Southern Pines. Born Jan. 14, 1929 in Thomasville, he was the son of the late Prince Edward Jinright and Henrietta Russell Jinright. He was married to Jeane (Betty) McBride Jinright who survives. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served 15 months in Germany after World War II. Robert graduated from Thomasville High School, attended Davidson College and received his architectural degree from Georgia Tech.
He and his father started Jinright and Jinright Architects in 1954 which is now known as Jinright, Ryan and Lynn, PC. He was certified to practice in 10 states, held the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Certificate and was a past president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Some well-known landmarks include Thomasville High School, Garrison Pilcher Elementary School, Thomas County Central High School, the Bobby Hines Jail Justice center, the US Post Office/Federal Building and the Grady County Courthouse. Active in the Thomasville Rotary Club for 57 years, Robert has served on a wide variety of committees.
He was president in the 1971-1972 Rotary year and served as District Governor of Rotary International from 1994–1995. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and a Will Watt Fellow. He also served as president of Duckhaven Gun Club, YMCA, Salvation Army, Beachton Yacht Club (Historian), Glen Arven Country Club, Circumnavigator Club and was a founding member of Thomasville Landmarks. Robert’s interests included writing, sailing, bird watching, botanizing, world traveling and mountain climbing. He and Rodney Cone started a prison ministry at the jail justice center.
Other survivors include his children, Barbara Altork and husband Richard of Monroe, N.C., Robert Russell Jinright Jr. and Leiann Orr and husband David all of Thomasville; grandchildren, Leila and John Adams, Rachel Altork, Martha and Luke Krenzin, Robert and Julia Altork, Daniel Altork, Russell and Kimberly Orr, Hannah Orr and Parker Orr; great-grandchildren, Ruby, Jack, Luke, Cecelia, Eli, Esther, Eden and Peregrine. He is also preceded in death by sister, Barbara Ellen Jinright; and brother, Prince Edward Jinright Jr.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Jackson St. Thomasville, Ga. 31792 or the Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1277. Thomasville. Ga. 31799. The family will greet friends after the service in the fellowship hall at the church. Friends and family are invited to sign the online register at www.allenfh.com. — Allen & Allen Funeral Home