Cheryl Ann Kinsey

Cheryl Ann Kinsey, 62, of Port Washington, died Monday, May 25, 2009 in her home following a courageous battle with breast cancer.

A daughter of Russell and Marie (Albertson) Atkinson, Cheryl was born June 23, 1946 at Lakewood, Ohio.

Cheryl lived most of her life in Tuscarawas County attending New Philadelphia Schools. She graduated from Mentor High School in 1964 and continued her education at Ashland College graduating with a degree in Management. On December 16, 1967, Cheryl married the love of her life, Harry R. Kinsey, Jr. and together, they raised two sons, Russell and Benjamin. The couple shared 36 years of marriage prior to Harry’s passing on October 1, 2004.

For over 30 years, Cheryl was employed by Bank One and retired as the Vice President of Human Resources. Following her retirement from Bank One, she served as the executive director for Leadership Tuscarawas for three years. Outside of her professional career, Cheryl dedicated much of her time to her community and the professional development for others. She was a former trustee and president of the United Way of Tuscarawas County, past president of Dover/New Philadelphia Business & Professional Women, past president of Tuscarawas County Personnel Association, executive board member of the Workforce Investment Board of Tuscarawas and Stark Counties and Vice Chair for the Business Technology Advisory Committee of Kent State University Tuscarawas Campus.

Cheryl enjoyed dancing and along with her late husband, she traveled the country to take part in various ballroom, square and country western dances. The couple formed many relationships with fellow dancers over the years. Dancing even became a family affair with their two sons joining them on occasion.

She is survived by her father, Russell (Lou) Atkinson of Chagrin Falls; her mother, Mia Atkinson of Dover; her sons, Rusty (Vicki) Kinsey of Stone Creek and Ben (India) Kinsey of Port Washington; two grandchildren, Kory and Kyle Kinsey of New Philadelphia; three step-grandchildren, Nicole Bender of Stone Creek, Nick Bender of Uhrichsville and Josten Burdette of Port Washington; a step-great-granddaughter, Kadance Beitzel of Stone Creek; a brother, Russ (Nancy) Atkinson of Rockwood, Michigan; a half-brother, Rob (Shea) Alexander of New Middletown, Ohio; a half-sister, Toni (Michael) Jones of Brandon, Mississippi; a sister-in-law, Nancy Swiger of Port Washington; a brother-in-law, Gilly (Alice) Gilmore of Gnadenhutten; several nieces and nephews; and her loving companion, her dog, Suzy Q.

The family will receive guests on Thursday, May 28, 2009 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A funeral service celebrating Cheryl’s life will be held on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 10:30 AM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Chapel with Rev. Dr. Steven Bailey officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held in the Geib Family Center at New Philadelphia.

Contributions may be made in Cheryl’s memory to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, OH 44622 or to the Leadership Tuscarawas Scholarship Fund, PO Box 971, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.