Biographical Sketch

Nelson Crane. Trinkle, Sr., born June 7, 1939 in Lexington Virginia.
Son of Colonel Robert J. and Eleanor C Trinkle
Two siblings: Brother, Robert J. Trinkle, Jr., deceased,
                      and sister, Anne W. Obendorfer of Bridgewater Virginia.

Married in January 1979 to Karen L. Trinkle, retired Lieutenant Colonel United States Air Force and Virginia Air National Guard.

Father of two sons, Nelson C. Trinkle, Jr. and Robert B. Trinkle, with a daughter in law Julie and three grand daughters Beverley, Leslie, and Alexandria Trinkle, and daughter Eleanor C. Nelson with son in law Wesley Nelson and one grand son Colton Nelson.

• Attends St. James the Less Episcopal church in Ashland, Virginia and the First United Methodist Church in Mathews, Virginia.
• Educated in the Lexington public school system and graduated form Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, West Virginia.
• Attended the Virginia Military Institute, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology.
• Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.
• Retired from the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel completing 28 years service with service as a Command Pilot, Instructor Pilot, and Chief of Command and Control.
• Also worked at the Park 500 Division Philip Morris Inc. as an Operations Manager and Process Engineer and retired with 30 years service.
• Holds a Commercial Pilot’s License with Instrument rating in Multi-Engine Jet, turboprop, and single engine land.
• Certified SCUBA Diver, Advanced Class
• Holds an Amateur Radio Operator Advanced Class License
• Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Air Force Association
• Member of The National Audubon Society and The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
• The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies
• Richmond Gem and Mineral Society and is a Certified Mineral Miner.
• Active hobbies include Aviation, Ornithology, Geology, and Amateur Radio.

• Raised a Master Mason in Washington and Henry Lodge No. 344 May 1993.
• Served as Master of Henry Lodge No. 344 in 1997.
• Served as DDGM for District 15 C in 2003.
• Member of Virginia Research Lodge No. 1777.
• Became a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason in 1994
• Elected Senior Warden in the Lodge of Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Richmond Valley, Orient of Virginia in 2012
• Member of the Scottish Rite Guard and The Knights of St. Andrews.
• Cast Member of the Seventh and Fourteenth Degrees in The Richmond Valley.
• Invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander Court of Honor (KCCH).
• Member of the Scottish Rite Research Society
• Scottish Rite Master Craftsman
• Past High Priest of Washington RAC No. 9, 2003-2004.
• Obtained the degrees of Super Excellent Master, Anointed High Priest, and Thrice Illustrious Master
• Member of Manchester RAC No. 48 and Virginia Research Chapter No. 1753
• Elected Grand Master of the First Veil of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia on November 2004.
• Past Commander of Richmond Commandery No. 2 in 2005-2006
• The Grand Recorder Emeritus of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Virginia
• Member of the Royal Order of Scotland
  
  An active Officer or past Officer in the following Appendant Bodies:
• Past President and Past Commander of Fort Lee-Richmond Chapter, National Sojourners and James Monroe Camp Hero’s of 76.
• Past President and now Secretary Treasurer of Virginia Chapter Philalethes Society
• Past Sovereign Master of The Allied Masonic Degrees, William T. Buckner Council 130. Is a holder of the Red Branch of Eri.
• Past Governor of Commonwealth York Rite College No. 50
• Past Excellent Chief of King Darius Council No. 17, Knight Masons of the U.S.A
• Herald of St. Polycarp Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine
• Masonic Society Rosicrucian’s of the United States, Seventh Degree
• Trinity Chapter No. 12, Commemorative Order St Thomas of Acon, Cellarer.
  
  Masonic Honors and Awards:
• Knight Commander Court of Honor in The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
• Knight of the York Cross of Honor
• De Molay Legion of Honor, Honorary
• Order of the Purple Cross, York Rite Sovereign College
• Knight Commander of the Temple, Grand Encampment Knights Templar in U.S. A.
• Member of "The Sovereign Order Knights Preceptor"