Obituaries : Guadalupe ‘Lupe’ Hinckle; Cofounded Charity Agency

Guadalupe “Lupe” Hinckle, a community volunteer who worked through the Colleagues and Children’s Institute International to aid abused children, has died. She was 79.

Hinckle died Thursday of cancer in her Los Angeles home, her son, David, of Burlingame, Calif., said Monday.

In 1980, the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission chose Hinckle for its award honoring outstanding volunteer service to the community.

She was a former president of Colleagues and one of its 50 founders in 1950. The group initially raised funds to aid unwed mothers, but in the 1960s switched its focus to become one of the first organizations dedicated to preventing child abuse and aiding abused youngsters. The Colleagues developed their programs at Children’s Institute International, formerly known as Big Sisters.

Hinckle shared her work in Colleagues with another long-time member, former first lady Nancy Reagan, and helped plan Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in Washington. The president named Hinckle to the National Selective Service Appeals Board and to the U.S. presidential delegation to South Korea.

Born Guadalupe Felix in Sonora, Mexico, Hinckle came to Los Angeles with her family when she was a child. After her mother, sister and brother died and her father returned to Mexico, Hinckle stayed on in a boarding school.

She later married attorney William Hinckle, and soon became the first Mexican member of the Junior League.

When her husband died in 1961, she was left with three teenage children. She candidly told The Times years later, “I climbed walls.”

But she increased her volunteer work and adapted to her new life.

“Women are better adjusted as single people,” she said. “Being the care-givers, you don’t need someone to take care of you.”

Once asked at a tony party what she did in the artistic world, Hinckle replied proudly: “I raise children.”

In addition to David, Hinckle is survived by another son, Peter, of Corvallis, Ore.; a daughter, Katherine, of Mill Valley, Calif., and six grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 27 at Children’s Institute International.

The family has asked that any memorial contributions be made to the Children’s Institute International, 711 S. New Hampshire Ave., Los Angeles, CA. 90005.