Dr. Dennis Pinkston

PINKSTON, Dr. Dennis Bradley - Age 82, of Swartz Creek, passed away on December 9, 2022.  Denny was born on March 22, 1940 in Flint, to Clyde Pinkston and Helen (Frost) Pinkston. He attended Grand Blanc High School, and then Swartz Creek High School where he graduated in 1958. He attended Mott Community College and then Michigan State University, where he graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1964. Later that same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Karan Gottleber. They have two children, Jeffrey Pinkston and Wendy (Pinkston) Godfrey. Denny served two years in the U.S. Army stationed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There he purchased and inspected meat and poultry being shipped to soldiers fighting in Viet Nam.

Denny practiced Veterinary Medicine in Swartz Creek for many years. He loved being a local veterinarian. He was an avid joke teller, harness horse trainer and driver, classic car aficionado, and Michigan State Spartan alumnus and fan. Go green! Two of his favorite places on earth were sitting in his chair watching any MSU game and being in the Dominican Republic. Denny made many trips to the Dominican Republic delivering baseball equipment to children in need and organizing free spay clinics for the stray island street dogs. In the Dominican he coordinated Continuing Education for fellow veterinarians, and also educated the college there on current veterinary technology and practices. Denny was dedicated to his Veterinary practice, Swartz Creek Animal Hospital, and serving the community. In most recent years he served on the Swartz Creek City Council. He was instrumental in bringing Sports Creek Raceway to Swartz Creek.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karan Pinkston, his son Dr. Jeffrey Pinkston; his daughter and son-in-law and Wendy Godfrey and Jared Godfrey of Richmond, Virginia; his granddaughters Lillian Godfrey of Richmond, Virginia, Ava Pinkston, and Emily (Greenway) Alles; his sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Karl Jaehrling of Celebration, Florida;  brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Karl and Mary Gottleber of Midland; and nephews Christian Jaehrling of Rheda-Wiedenbruck, Germany and Eric Gottleber of Midland.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Helen Pinkston.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 PM Wednesday December 14 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek. (A livestream of the funeral will be available at Denny's page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com). Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Grand Blanc. Visitation will be held 2-8 PM Tuesday, December 13, and 1 PM until the time of the funeral at 2 PM on Wednesday, December 14 at the funeral home. Those desiring may make contributions to Citizens for Animal Rescue of Flint, Michigan or the American Cancer Society.

Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.