Paul Trinkkeller, 87; Dentist Was Married 65 Years

Longtime Pacific Palisades resident and Santa Monica dentist Dr. Paul E. Trinkkeller passed away peacefully on March 26 in the patio of his home. Trinkkeller was born in Bakersfield on April 18, 1920, to Edward Paul Trinkkeller and Marie Augustine Paul. In 1938, he enrolled at UCLA for his pre-dental classes and lived with his grandparents, who had come to Los Angeles from Germany in the 1880s. While at UCLA, he met his future wife, Jane. He was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity and Cal Men. Paul and Jane were married in Los Angeles on February 12, 1943, while Paul was in the USC School of Dentistry in the V-12 program. After graduation, as a lieutenant, he was stationed at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, where he moved with his wife and infant son. Later, after Paul opened his first practice in Santa Monica, he was recalled into the service during the Korean War and spent two more years in Georgia with his family before returning to California. They moved to Marquez Knolls in Pacific Palisades in 1957. Paul retired in 1980, and his son, Paul, Jr., succeeded him. During his working years, Paul was active in the Santa Monica Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Monica Optimist Club and was a lieutenant in the Santa Monica Mounted Police, with whom he participated in many area parades with his horse, Skeeter. Paul and his family loved sports, especially UCLA sports, and he enjoyed participating in waterskiing, dirt biking, tennis and golf. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jane; sons Paul, Jr. (wife Mercy) of Soledad Canyon and Bob (wife Inessa) of Culver City. He was predeceased by sons Tom (1991) and Jim (1994), as well as his brother, Eugene. He enjoyed his grandchildren James, Damien, Paul III, Tori, Janie and Tommy, and two great-grandchildren, Taylor and Aubrey. Entombment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset. A reception will follow at the church. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to a philanthropy of one’s choice.