Charles "Chuck" Kinney

1923 - 2011

Col. Charles Kinney (Ret.)
Evansville, IN
Colonel Charles "Chuck" Kinney (Ret.), 87, of Evansville, passed away at 11:18 pm, Sunday, July 3, 2011 at West River Health Campus.
Chuck was born July 13, 1923 in Beeson, IL, the son of Vernon and Beulah (Tuley) Kinney. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Chuck was retired as a Colonel from the United States Army. He was a Past Master of Rockport Masonic Lodge #112, 33rd Degree and past officer of the Scottish Rite Valley of Evansville and the York Rite. He was also a member of York Rite College Purple Cross, Hadi Shrine, Legion of Honor, National Sojourner and Jester.
The 1994 recipient of the Evans Award enlisted in the Indiana National Guard on July 23, 1939 in Evansville and was called to Federal Service on January 17, 1941. While serving as an Infantry soldier at Fort Wolters, TX, he earned a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Medical Administrative Corps and was later selected in the first integration of officers into the Regular Army in 1946. During 31 years, 4 months service, he served overseas in Alaska (before statehood), Japan and Korea with the 25th Infantry Division, 7 years in France (2 tours), Vietnam where he commanded the Medical Supply Depot System of 5 Depots and a Data Processing Center and Okinawa until his retirement on October 31, 1970.
His assignments included Command of 3 Medical Depots, Commander of the Post and geographic area of Vitry-le-Francois, France, having 2 NATO (Standby) Air Bases and a 1000 bed hospital facility. He was the first Medical Service Corps officer to command a Medical Brigade-the 18th Medical Brigade, 22nd Field Army Support Command. He wears 12 awards and decorations including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
He completed the Command and General Staff College, the Army's Logistics Management Course as well as 10 other military schools and taught organization, logistics, military intelligence and transportation during 2 tours at the Medical Field Service School, San Antonio, TX. He has a BA in Economics from the University of Nebraska and Advance work at the Universities of Maryland and Oklahoma.
During his service career he participated in community activities as a Boy Scout leader and President of various Officers Clubs, Aero Clubs, and Rod and Gun Clubs. He was an Honorary member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of France, a Nebraska Admiral, a Kentucky Colonel and life member of the TROA, ROA and VFW.
After retirement he was a Hospital Department Director at Deaconess in Evansville and Assistant Hospital Administrator of the 900 bed hospital at Lakeland, FL. Returning to his home town, he pursued a business career as Chairman and President of Adair Industries, building it to 64 employees and 5 companies before retiring again. Exemplifying the best in the tradition of the "Citizen Soldier", he remained active in his community as a President of the Heart Association, Rolling Hills Country Club and the Evansville Armed Forces Council. He was also a Director of the Freedom Festival Foundation and was a founder of the Army Medical Department Museum at Ft. Sam Houston, TX.
He is survived by wife, Mary Ann Sutton (Garrett) Kinney of Evansville; daughters, Patsi Hart and Jeanie Johnson (Bayly) of North Carolina; sons, David Kinney (Jean), Wayne Kinney (Irish), both of Dallas, TX, William Garrett III (Georgia) and David Garrett; seventeen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Jacqueline (Pickering) Kinney in 2007, a son, Charles Robert Kinney, Jr. in 1965, two brothers and a sister.
Services will be held at 7 pm, Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel - 5330 Washington Avenue with Reverend Allen Amstutz officiating. Rockport Masonic Lodge #112 will conduct a Memorial Service at 6:45 pm. The Scottish Rite Valley of Evansville 33rds, the Shrine Hospital Staff and the Legion of Honor will conduct a Walk Through beginning at 6:30 pm.
Friends may call from 2 pm until 7 pm, Wednesday, July 6, 2011 and from 5 pm until 7pm, Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Boone Funeral Home - East Chapel.
Graveside Services will be held at Friday, July 8, 2011 at Ft. Knox Post Cemetery, Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he will be laid to rest beside his first wife, Jacqueline and his son, Charles Robert Kinney, Jr.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Scottish Rite Learning Center, 203 Chestnut St., Evansville, IN 47713.
Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net