Floy Bedford Hinson

We are saddened to announce the passing of our dearest Floy B. Hinson.  A humanist and a storyteller at his core, he genuinely loved people and they loved him back.  If he told stories of you, he loved you. Following a courageous battle with cancer, he slept away on May 3, 2024 at 91 years, surrounded by family.   A celebration of his life will be held at 2:00 on Tuesday May 14th at Highland Methodist Church, 1808 N. Dixie in Odessa TX. 

Floy was born August 9, 1932, in Alvarado, Texas, to Clara Davis Hinson and Floy “Dad” Hinson.  He was joined later by brothers George, Jim, Earl, and sister Katherine.  As a boy, he attended little country schools in central Texas and graduated from Grandview High School in 1951.

At age 20, he was drafted and served into the Army during the Korean War as a military policeman.  Upon discharge he enrolled in North Texas State University and graduated in 1957, when he took a bus to Odessa TX to accept his first teaching position at Ector Junior-Senior High School  Here he met fellow English teacher and bride to be, Janell Parr.  They were married in 1963 and blessed with two sons, Floy Brian and Bradley Jack over their 32 years together.  His beloved Janell died in 1995. 

Floy committed 47 years of service to the ECISD, as teacher, administrator, and Board of Trustees member.  His sons note a lifetime of intersections with ex-students catching the family to hug, chat, and laugh about that time Mr. Hinson…    About the difference he made, his authenticity, and his genuine interest in their well-being.  There is always a through-line of people feeling authentically seen, heard, and understood.  This was his gift beyond the classroom as well, and simply who he was - as a teacher, friend, son, father, husband, and more.  Kind and wise.  Intellectual and funny.  Empathetic. Genuine.

Floy’s family continued to grow when he was introduced to Marty Biggs, whose husband Joe had also died in 1995. She became his new blessing and partner in life, and they married in Hawaii in 2002. The Biggs family brought sons Brent and Byron, daughter-in-law Amy, 3 grandsons and 1 granddaughter to Floy’s life.   In this time, son Brad married Lorez Scudder and blessed him with twin grandsons, Matthew and Joshua Hinson. Marty and Floy shared 22 years of family, traveling, and storytelling.  

Preceding Floy in death were his parents Clara and Floy, wife Janell, brothers George and Jim, and best friends, Bob Carlson and Keith Dial. Survivors include sons Brian and Brad and wife Lorez, grandsons Matthew and Joshua, brother Earl and wife Betty, sister Katherine, wife Marty and extended family Brent Biggs and Jennifer Hopgood, Byron Biggs and wife Amy, grandchildren Truman, Grant, Ross, and Margaret, sisters-in-law Sara Branscum and Ann Biggs, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice or to Floy’s place of worship, Highland Methodist Church or the ECISD Education Foundation.