Carol John Vinning

December 18, 1935-February 11, 2016
Carol Vinning of Patterson passed away Thursday morning in the Butterfly Wing of Hospice of Baton Rouge. He spent his last days with his extensive, loving family.
Born in Patterson on Dec. 18, 1935, he lived his life there. An Army veteran and one of the hardest working men anyone knew, he belonged to the Knights of Columbus, served on the Kemper Williams Park Advisory Committee, Patterson Cypress Saw Mill Museum, and was Scoutmaster to Pack 339 and Troop 41. He received the Bronze Pelican and Silver Beaver Awards and Citizen of the Year by the American Legion, to name a few of his many accolades.
Working for Williams Inc. and St. Mary Parish, he knew and loved the land, waters and people of south Louisiana. His hobbies included woodworking, gardening, fishing and community activities. Those lucky enough to encounter him knew him to be fair, honest, quick to laugh and ready to share a childhood story of the swamps in which he grew up. He will be missed by many.
Those he leaves to cherish his memory include his wife of 60 years, Alene “Tuffy” Rushing Vinning; his children, Joette V. Michel and her husband, Jon, C. Lance Vinning and his wife, Cindy, Carla V. Griffin and her fiancé, Scott Rundell, and Crystal V. Eldringhoff and her husband, Tom; his siblings, Emma Lee Belanger, Jerry Vinning, Gwen Gill and Beth Hammond; eight grandchildren, Heather M. Bergeron, Jennifer Michel, Joey Vinning, Caroline Vinning, Lauren G. Brown, Ryan Griffin, Ashley E. Barber and Rebecca Eldringhoff; two great-grandchildren, Kelsey Michel and Theodore Barber; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Corbett Vinning and Ella Landry Vinning; and his son-in-law, Brent Griffin.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson during an 11 a.m. memorial Mass of Christian burial. Inurnment will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Father Herb Bennerfield will be the celebrant for the Mass with Father Angelo Cremaldi concelebrating.
Pallbearers will be Jon Michel, Tom Eldringhoff, Scott Rundell, Ryan Griffin, Joey Vinning, Brandon Brown, Dwayne Bergeron, Peyton Barber, Frank Guarisco, Henry “Bo” LaGrange, Paul Gill, and William Gill. Honorary pallbearer is the late Brent Griffin.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Sunday at Ibert’s Mortuary in Patterson from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., with the recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will resume Monday at the church at 9 a.m. and continues until the time of the memorial Mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Mr. Carol’s memory to the Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Foundation (made payable to WWA & CSF), PO Box 38, Patterson, LA 70392 or to the Boy Scout Troop 41 to help in the relocation of their Scout Hut. Contributions to the Boy Scout Troop 41 can be made at Patterson State Bank made payable to the sponsoring organization, Knights of Columbus #1710.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary Inc., 1111 Lia St., Patterson, LA 70392, (985) 395-7873.