JOHN M. KINGSOLVER

KINGSOLVER, JOHN M.

John M. Kingsolver, son of Roy L. and Rena I. Kingsolver, was born in 1925 in Delaware County, Indiana. He was the oldest of 4 children, the others being Max, Mary and David. He attended rural schools in central Indiana, was a veteran of the US Navy during WWII and graduated from Purdue University in 1951.

In 1948, he and Cynthia L. Lindesmith were married in Logansport, IN. Two children were the product of this marriage, John Mark, Jr. and Rebecca Diane. He entered the University of Illinois in 1954, received a Master's Degree in entomology in 1956 and a PhD in 1961.

The family moved to Silver Spring, MD, and John was employed by the US Department of Agriculture as a research entomologist from 1962 to 1990. During these years, John and Cynthia attended St. Bernadette's Church where John sang in the choir. In 1991, they moved to Gainesville, FL. John Jr. died of leukemia in 1989. Cynthia died in 1993 and is buried in Spencer Cemetery near Sheridan, Indiana.

John spent his retirement volunteering for Catholic Charities, reading books for the University of Florida's radio for the blind, and continuing with his first love, entomology, by writing scientific papers and books while volunteering at the Florida Dept of Agriculture in Gainesville, sorting and identifying insects.

John was married to Audrey Wright who survives him. He is also survived by his daughter, Rebecca of Kentucky, two granddaughters, Jenny and Nancy, and six great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:00 AM Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Holy Faith Catholic Church, 747 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville. A visitation and Vigil Service will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Friday, December 13 at the Church. Arrangements are in the care of Forest Meadows Funeral Home (352) 378-2528. An online guestbook is available at www.forestmeadowsfh.com.