WILLIAM F. KINNEY

Thursday, March 10, 2005

© Cherokee, OK. Messenger & Republican

Submitted by: Sylva Rhodes

WILLIAM F. KINNEY

Aline, OK. - Funeral service for William "Bill" Franklin Kinney, 88, was Tuesday at the United Methodist Church, Aline, with the Rev. Lyle Shipley officiating. Burial was in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery southwest of Aline, directed by Lanman Funeral Home, Helena, OK. He died March 4, 2005 at his home in Aline.

He was born Jan. 22, 1917, west of Aline, OK., in Woods County, to Ed and Effie Stuck Kinney. He attended rural school in Woods County. In 1924, the family moved to Tulsa, OK., then in 1925 moved to Marlow, OK. where he lived until he was drafted in 1941. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany in World War II. He was a driver for General Collins and took part in the Battle of the Bulge and Crossing the Rhine River. He received a Purple Heart, three Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal and the American Defense Ribbon. He was discharged in 1946 as a corporal.

In 1942, he married Virginia Goss in Enid, OK. After he was discharged from the service, they settled in Cherokee, OK. where he was undersheriff and attended welding school. In 1950, they moved to Okarche, OK. where they bought a restaurant and operated it for four and one-half years. Then they moved to Wichita, KS. where he welded for Fruhauf and later Boeing. In 1968, Boeing transferred him to Washington State where they lived until 1992. Then they returned to Aline, OK.

He was a member of Aline United Methodist Church, the American Legion, Aline Senior Center Board of Directors and the Aline Chamber of Commerce.

He is survived by his wife of Aline, OK.; a sister, Erma Hood of Aline, OK., and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Bill Jr. and Dean; a sister Dolly and two brothers, Roy and Kenneth.

Memorials may be made to the church or the senior center through the funeral home.