James H. Kinley

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OLEAN - James H. Kinley, of Olean and Arlington, Texas, passed away on Monday (July 20, 2015) at his Olean residence.

Born May 27, 1927, in Olean, he was the son of the late Lewis F. and Carolyn Banta Kinley. On July 5, 1948, he married his first love, the former Barbara L. Parks. They had two children, Carolyn and James L. They had a loving marriage until Barbara passed away on July 2, 1973.

On May 1, 1976, he married his second love, Sarah Crisafulli. Once again, he was very blessed with a loving, happy marriage for all his remaining years. He always felt very blessed to be related to all of Sarah's brothers and their children. They were the family he never had, and he enjoyed their company and their friendship. Many of them seemed like his own children.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served on an anti-submarine ship, the U.S. Woonsocket P.F. 32, in the North Atlantic Ocean, until the end of the war.

During his long business career, Mr. Kinley served as president of Kinley Oil and Gas, and Kinley Corporation. In the early 1990s, he turned the corporation presidency and operations over to his son, J.L. Kinley. As J.L. carried on the operations, he expanded Kinley to remarkable new heights. He was very proud of his son and his success as the fifth generation to carry on the family business and to have such an impeccable reputation.

Several of his favorite memories were the years he worked in the oil fields in New York and Pennsylvania as a boy and man. He worked several different jobs as laborer, tool dresser, pumper, roustabout, then as foreman and superintendent. He loved the outdoors and working in the woods. He was a close friend with the men he worked with and always enjoyed and remembered them through the years.

Mr. Kinley enjoyed spending time with his wife, Sarah, and being in the company of their family. They enjoyed traveling together, especially to Italy and Sicily. Jim enjoyed the outdoor woodlands in New York and Pennsylvania. He also enjoyed reading his books in the large library he had collected over the years.

During his business career, Mr. Kinley also served on numerous boards of directors including First National Bank of Bolivar, First Trust Union Bank, North Star Bank N.A., Fleet Bank, Investors Royalty of Tulsa, Okla., Sabine Royalty Corporation of Dallas, Texas, Cupler Torpedo Company and Otto Torpedo Company, as well as other entities.

He was active in St. John's Church in Olean, where he also served on the finance committee for many years before retiring. He was also a member of the NYS Oil Producers Association, American Historical Societies, Drake Oil Museum, American Legion, Tea Party Patriots, Free and Accepted Masons, Wednesday Romeos and the Manhattan Group.

Surviving besides his wife, Sarah, are a son J.L. (Jenifer) Kinley of Arlington, Texas; a daughter, Carolyn (Michael) Crawford of Oak Leaf, Texas; six grandchildren, Adam Crawford, Michael J. Crawford, Kirstin Green, James P. Kinley, Amanda Chappell and Katherine Kinley; six great-grandchildren; a cousin, William Kinley of Olean; a distant cousin, Jim (Anne) Kinley of Mareeba, Australia, and their lovely daughter, Phoebe, who have visited Jim and Sarah in the United States; a niece, Linda (Ron) Cecchi; and a nephew, Jeff (Keiley) Banfield.

In addition to his first wife Barbara, he was predeceased by a sister, Joyce Banfield, on June 8, 2002.

Friends will be received on Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, Olean. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday (July 24, 2015) at 10 a.m. in St. John's Church. The Rev. Ed Sheedy, pastor, will be the principal celebrant. The Rev. William Wangler will concelebrate. Burial will be at a later date at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the St. John's Endowment Fund, 931 N. Union St., Olean, NY 14760; the Challenger Learning Center of the Twin Tier Region, 182 E. Union St., Suite 2, Allegany, NY 14706; the Olean Public Library, 134 N. Second St., Olean, NY 14760; or to the Penn-Brad Oil Museum, 901 South Ave., Custer City, PA 16725. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.
Published in The Olean Times Herald on July 22, 2015
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