John Ray Kindig

Mr. John Ray Kindig, age 85, passed to the Lord Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, at Saint Joseph's Candler Hospital in Savannah GA. Mr. John, commonly known as Jack by his family and friends, was born in Medina, OH to Eleanor Ashbrook and Rufus L. Kindig on April 28th, 1940. His family moved to Shelbyville, TN when John was 8 years old and was a graduate of Shelbyville Central High School. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master's in Education from Austin Peay University in Clarksville, TN and also a Masters in Music Performance from the University of Georgia in Athens. In 1961 John married Karen Fay Kennedy.

John had a career as a musician (drummer) in Nashville, TN while holding the position of supervising band director of five Nashville schools and full-time director of the Cohn High School marching band. He later relocated to McMinnville, TN where he was employed at Warren County High School as head band director for 8 years.

John was later offered a position with the Brunswick Bowling Corp. for 5 years as certified manager in Keokuk, Iowa. Not liking the frigid weather, he accepted a position as president of Southern Lanes Bowling Corp. in Statesboro for 5 years. Having been a teacher for 25 years, he was offered a position with Horace Mann Insurance Company, predominantly insuring teachers, and worked there for 15 years. He later worked for Statesboro Insurance Agency where he retired after 15 years at the age of 78.

John was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Karen Fay Kennedy Kindig.

He had a second marriage, full of love, in 2018 to Pauline Gauthier – Kindig for seven and a half short years. John is also survived by his two sons, Charles L. Kindig (Theresa) of Brooklet, GA and Anthony Scott Kindig (Kim) of Jefferson, GA, six grandchildren, John F. Kindig, Amanda Patrick, Seth Kindig, Nathaniel Kindig, Drew Kindig, and Mary Beth Kindig, seven great-grandchildren, Abigail Hazel and Lyndsey Kindig, Claire and Nora Patrick, and Georgia, Eleanor (Ollie) and Judah Kindig.

The family will receive visitors on Sunday from 2:00pm until 5:00pm at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro.

The family asks that donations in John's name be made to the National Kidney Foundation.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday at 11:00am at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Statesboro.

Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com

Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.