John Gilbert Kinney

John (Johnny) Gilbert Kinney, 74, of Rushsylvania, OH passed on February 14, 2018 at his home with his loving wife of 54 years, Scarlett, by his side.

John was born January 7, 1944 in Kenton, OH, the only son of Gilbert Adams Kinney and Marilyn Elizabeth (Johnson) Kinney.  He married Scarlett DeeAnn Evilsizor on June 16, 1963.  A daughter, DeeAnna (Kinney) Batton preceded him in death July 24, 2001.

John is survived by his wife; son Dr. Troy (Christy) Kinney of Addison, TX; his two precious granddaughters Miranda Batton (Jeremy) Brisson of Bellefontaine and Kyra Batton of Rushsylvania whom he and Scarlett raised after their mother DeeAnna’s death; two sisters Karen (Tom) Goff of Zanesfield, and Kathleen (Gary) Davis of Rushsylvania; sister-in-law Nancy (Gayle) Bradds of Beavercreek; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He played basketball at Rushsylvania High School, from which he graduated in 1962.

For two years during the Vietnam War, John served as a Spec. 4 U. S. Army jeep driver and mechanic for a Commanding Officer of a unit in Fort Davis, Panama, where his wife joined him and where their son, Troy, was born.

Johnny was very proud of all his children and loved spending time with them.  He was an avid, knowledgeable farmer who loved the outdoors and animals, and believed that raising family on the farm was the best way of life.

Johnny loved taking many rides to Indian Lake to see the progress of the new dam being built, and reminiscing about his younger years sharing the lake while dating Scarlett and enjoying music from the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Johnny joyfully retold his hay bale-throwing, steer-riding, and stock car building and racing stories to other farmers, neighbors, friends and family, many of whom will miss him.

Visitation will be held Sunday, February 18, 2018 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Bellefontaine.

Pastor Doug Thompson will officiate the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 19, 2018 at the Rushsylvania Church of Christ inRushsylvania.

Burial will be at the Equality Cemetery in Rushsylvania.

The funeral arrangements are in the care of the staff of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Bellefontaine.

(Obituary authored by the family)