Reginald Ivan Kinney Obituary (1921 - 2013)

Reginald I. Kinney 92 years, of 140 Wilder Hill Road in Norridgewock died peacefully at his home on March 29, 2013. He was born in Norridgewock, Maine, on February 5, 1921, son of Arthur Kinney and Olive Bigelow Kinney. He grew up and attended schools in the Norridgewock area. On November 9, 1945, Reg married Blanche Abbott of Norridgewock. The couple lived on the Wilder Hill Road and Reg continued to work the Norridgewock family farm and raise their four children. On two separate occasions, totaling 20 years, Reg drove school bus for SAD# 54. During 1975 Reg and his son, Gary Kinney, went into partnership on the Norridgewock Dairy Farm. In 1977 Gary and his wife Sheila bought the ownership of the 3rd generation Dairy Farm. The farm was a huge part of Reg’s life and even after selling it, he continued to help do daily chores and work the farm with his son. Reg had a passion for horses. From a young boy of eight years old he started driving a pair of workhorses to do the plowing and harrowing on the family farm. He and his father pulled horses at the Grange fairs in the 1930’s in Norridgewock, Skowhegan and Farmington. He owned and showed three horses including two black mares, Dot and Belle, at several area fairs. Reg broke colts and exercised friends’ horses so they would be ready for pulling. After giving up his own horses he continued to travel to fairs and horse pulling’s to pursue his passion. He also traveled with friends out of state delivering and purchasing horses. Reg’s love of horses and gathering with friends made traveling to fairs and horse pulling’s one of his favorite past times. Reg loved to share his life stories, watch old westerns on TV and spend time with his family and friends. Reg was cared for by several loving and caring women over the last two years and to each of them our family will forever be grateful. With these special women’s help we were able to fulfill Reg’s wish of staying at home. Reg was an extremely loving and giving person and will be greatly missed by all. Reg is predeceased by his parents Arthur Kinney and Olive Bigelow Kinney , an infant brother, Emery Kinney who died in 1927, wife Blanche Abbott Kinney (1994), son Gary Kinney (2000) and special friend and companion, Edwina Costello, (2009). Survivors include a son Wayne Kinney and wife Patricia of Ferndale, WA, daughter Patricia Mitchell and husband Alan of Smithfield, daughter Pamela Wilkinson and husband Donald of Skowhegan, daughter in-law Sheila Kinney of Norridgewock, Foster son Robert Rodzen and wife Judy of Madison, Foster daughter, Phyllis Reeger and husband Paul of Fort Myers, Florida, sister Madelyn Kinney of Norridgewock, sister Emerald Lancaster and husband Raymond of Skowhegan, Foster sister Anna Bartlett of Bangor, grandchildren include Dan Kinney, Melissa Kinney, Angela Roberts, Michael Wilkinson, Jodi Pelletier, Brandi Emery, A.J. Mitchell, Aimee Kinney, three foster grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and nieces and nepehws. Viewing hours will be held on Tuesday April 2, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. A graveside service will be held later in the spring at the Sunsetview Cemetery in Norridgewock. Donations may be made in Reg’s name to the Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County, PO Box 3069, Skowhegan, Maine 04976