After 30 years on the job, two Laurel postal workers will be clocking out for the last time this weekend. In a touch of fate, they both started their careers on the same day as well in July 1980.
Butch Hinshaw and Jan White had separate paths to U.S. Post Office Choctaw Station, located at 140 Beacon Street, but now they’re as close as family.
White jokes that she sees Hinshaw more than his own wife, Kathy, does. After all, they have been punching the clock at the same location for the better part of three decades.
Hinshaw said he began his career with the postal service because of the influence of a mail carrier when he was a child.
“Ever since I was little, I always wanted to work with the post office,” he said. “There was a good carrier on our route, which was Highway 84 East. When I came back from Vietnam, I applied and got on.”
Hinshaw, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1970, said he worked at main location at 315 W. 5th Street for 24 years, before wrapping up his career at the Choctaw Station.
“I retired on Monday, but officially, it’s October 31,” he said.
White, who has spent the last four years at Choctaw, said she followed her father into her chosen profession.
“My dad retired here after 34 years,” she said. “I followed in his footsteps. I’ve made some very good friends.”
White said those friends, who began as customers, are one of her biggest accomplishments over her career. Hinshaw agreed with his co-worker, but added that “the day I made regular” also stood out.
That is regular as in regular postal worker instead of PTF, or part time flex.
“Making regular meant I had a regular job with regular days off,” Hinshaw said.
Hinshaw and White had a closing message for their customers and friends over their 30-year career. Almost in harmony, they said, “We appreciate their business and will miss them.”
Local News
Related Photos
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Photo/David Owens
Postal employees retire at same time
Hinshaw, White began careers on same day 30 years ago in Laurel
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