William Ernest “Bill” Kinder, 93, of Rural Retreat, passed on to his Heavenly Home, peacefully in his sleep, Thursday, Oct. 31. He was born Feb. 17, 1931.
Father, brother, uncle, friend, and neighbor to countless people, Bill brought a wealth of humor, joy, and insights to all who knew him. In early life, he served his patriotic call to duty, as an Airman First Class, inducted into the U.S. Army Air-Corp, and was honorably discharged out of what had then become the U.S. Air Force. After returning home, he came to serve his lifelong home of Rural Retreat as a hardware guy, volunteer fire fighter, faithful church member, and community supporter, earning the honorary title of “The Mayor of Buck Street.” Called to countless homes to service furnaces, water heaters, appliances and anything else needing repair, he gave so much to so many, and asked for so little in return. As the years later allowed, Bill traded in his tool belt for his shotgun, camo and boots, spending early mornings and late afternoons in a tree stand, patiently waiting on the next buck to wander by, or propped on a fence along a field, hoping to fill the crock pot with doves. After 36 years of service in the business, leaving the work world behind, he earned the accolade that “Mr. Hardware” had retired.
When the Rural Retreat community thinks of Bill Kinder, they invariably think of the person who completed him, his loving wife of 58 years, Jo Williams Kinder. Back in early 1950, the boy from Rural Retreat met a young school teacher from Comers Rock, while she was serving as a fresh-out-of-college short-hand and typing teacher at RRHS, and the rest was history. Bill and Jo built and moved into the family home on Buck Street. The 60s brought with them the rest of the Kinder household. Last week, as he sat quietly in the house, looking out the window at doves sitting on the powerlines, Bill proudly commented the occasion should be noted, that it was the day marking 67 years of calling that simple ranch house, the Kinder family home. In more recent times, many of the community’s school children and parents came to know him as “the old man waving from his picture window.” Those waves, car and bus honks and signs of love and care, were absolutely noticed by him, and he took great pleasure in enjoying the twice-daily school parade up and down Buck Street.
Bill is preceded in death by his loving wife, Jo Williams Kinder, his parents, Ernest and Ennis Buck Kinder, father-in law and mother-in law, Carl and Nettie Jane Williams; sister and brother-in-law, Elsie and Floyd Patrick, brothers Frank and Bobby and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Logene and Paul Mallory.
Left to cherish Bill’s memory are his son and daughter-in-law Billy Joe “B.J.” and Debbie and son Gary; special friend to the family Jim; brother and sister-in-law Doug and Harriet; sisters-in-law Anne and Onita, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Special love and thanks are given to Bill’s “Honorary Grandson,” and loving caregiver, Michael Jones (Helms). Thanks also to the loving and compassionate care given by Carol S. Shaver, who walked with Bill during his final days. A special thanks to special neighbors and friends, Ellen and Ed Schaack, whose loving care and daily checks reminded Bill and the family that someone may be a solitary resident, but they are never truly alone. Counting among his extended family, are countless other close and caring neighbors, church family, former hardware store colleagues, and those who call Bill friend.
The Kinder family is in the care of Lindsey Funeral Home, of Rural Retreat. Visitation with the family was held Friday, Nov. 8 at Lindsey Funeral Home (219 N. Main St., Rural Retreat). Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 9, 11a.m., at Grace Lutheran Church (514 S. Main St., Rural Retreat). Friends may call at the family home on Buck Street, at any time.