MSgt (Retired) James H. Kinney Takhli RTAFB 1970

James H. Kinney Obituary

James (Jim) Harold Kinney, age 92, of Berryville, AR entered eternal life on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at Harrison, AR after a brief illness.

Jim is predeceased by his wife, Evelyn (Harper) Kinney, his parents, Rev. R.V. Kinney and Edna (Ward) Kinney, his sister, Tut McDowell and brother Larry Joe Kinney.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Anita Leder and husband Rick, Pam Richter and husband Kevin, son Steven L. Kinney, all of Berryville, AR, and his grandchildren Jennifer Leder, Jeremy Leder and wife Stephanie, Sarah Berry, Shannon Schoolcraft and husband Troy, Sean Kinney, Allison Kinney, Eric Richter and wife Samantha, Adam Richter and wife Emily, Samantha McKnight and husband Codie, Connor Richter and Marissa Richter. Jim is also survived by his Great-grandchildren, Jonathan LeBlanc, Ethan Hertzler, Morgan Leder, Austyn Leder, Bryan Schoolcraft, Grayson Schoolcraft, Dean Richter, Elijah Richter, Elena Richter, Caroline Richter, Elise Richter, Theo McKnight, Evelyn McKnight, and Aurea McKnight.

Jim was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Green Forest. He was ordained as a deacon within the Southern Baptist Church and served at several Southern Baptist Churches in Maryland, Louisiana, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Arkansas. Jim was a man of strong faith in salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. His faith and his family were the most important things to him. Jim enjoyed the outdoors, including fishing, deer hunting, and gardening. He grew up picking cotton by hand in southern Arkansas and knew the value of hard work. He was a man of exceptional integrity, compassion and conviction. He will be greatly missed.

Jim served in the US Air Force as a military Police officer and manager for twenty years, retiring in 1972 as a Master Sergeant. He served as the K9 Kennel Master at Takhli Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand prior to his retirement. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Vietnam Security Police Association, the Vietnam Dog Handlers Association and the Thailand Dog Handlers Association.

A time of visitation will be held from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm Friday, November 8, 2024, at Charles M. Nelson Memorial Chapel, in Berryville AR. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church of Green Forest, with Pastor Randy Johnson officiating. Interment will be at a later date at Kilbourne Cemetery, Kilbourne, Louisiana. Memorial donations may be made to the DAV, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250, or the organization of your choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at Nelsonfuneral.com. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral.com. © Nelson Funeral Service, Inc. 2024

 MSgt (Retired) James H. (Bull) Kinney joined the US Air Force in 1951, being assigned as a Air Policeman. His assignments included Lake Charles AFB, LA, Greenham Commons Royal Air Base, England, Greenville AFB, MS, Tachikawa AB, Japan, Andrews AFB, MD, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, Griffis AFB, NY. He began his career as a Dog Handler at Andrews AFB, MD, as Kennel Master, circa 1964. He was involved in studies for the transition of Sentry Dogs to Patrol Dogs, of which Lackland approved and the Patrol Dog program was implemented. He served two tours at Takhli RTAFB as Kennel-master, and upon returning stateside, was reassigned as an inspector with USAF Communications Command IG team. He retired from active duty in 1972, and currently enjoys fishing.