Donald Robert Kinsey

Donald Robert Kinsey, 95, of Mineral City died Saturday, September 15, 2007, in Union Hospital at Dover.Born April 19, 1912, he was the son of the late Robert Christian and Elzanna Maude Carr Kinsey. He was raised on a family farm in Union Township, two miles east of Dennison. He attended grade school at Pleasant Valley and Healea schools and graduated from Dennison High School in 1930.In 1937, Donald graduated from Kent State University, and began teaching school for 8 years in Union Township, Dennison, Uhrichsville, and New Cumberland. He worked for three years for the railway mail service at the Pittsburgh mail terminal on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Donald has owned and operated farms in Mill, Rush, and Fairfield Townships where he has lived and farmed since 1967.Donald began his political career in 1950 seeking the office of Tuscarawas County Auditor. He defeated the incumbent auditor in the primary election and went on to win the general election, and proceeded to win every election for the next three decades until his political retirement in 1982.Donald served as president of the Ohio Association of County Auditors. He also served as secretary for four years and chaired numerous committees. He also served as the Ohio representative to the International Association of Assessing Officers. Donald was active in the Methodist Church having served as student pastor for the Wesley Foundation of the Methodist church in Kent while a student at the university. He is a member of the Mineral City United Methodist Church where he served as a delegate to the annual conference as well as on numerous church committees.Donald was a member of the New Philadelphia Lodge #177 of the F. & A. M. and received his fifty year pin in 1998. He was a member and past high priest of the Tuscarawas Chapter #38 Royal Arch Masons, a member and past master of the Tuscarawas Council #109 Royal and Select Masons, a member of the St. Bernard Commandry #51 Knights Templar, a member of the Bolivar Chapter #368 Order of the Eastern Star. Donald also was an active member of the New Philadelphia B.P.O.E. #510, a member of the New Philadelphia Lions, a member and past president of the Tuscarawas Valley Rotarian Club and the Tuscarawas County Farm Bureau. As a member of the farm bureau, he served on its board of trustees and served for five years as board president. He also served as president and board member of the Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society Fair Board.In addition to his numerous community affiliations, Donald devoted much of his time to the Ohio Outdoor Historical Drama Association (Trumpet in the Land) as a board member. His Grange affiliation was honorable also having served a seventy year membership with the Prosperity Grange and had the distinction of having been its youngest master at the age of 20 and its oldest master at the age of 86. As a member of the Pamona Grange, he received his 6th degree at State Grange and his 7th degree at National Grange.Donald received numerous awards and distinctions throughout his lifetime, most recently receiving the 2007 Citizen of the Year award from the National Ruritan Club, recognizing him for his gifts and continued service to the community.While at a Dennison alumni event, Ronald met and in 1991, married his wife, Elizabeth Kinsey, who survives. He is also survived by his two step-children, Pat (Ralph) Musgrave of Delaware, O. and Larry (Debbie) O’Brien of Phoenix, Arizona; and special friends, Jim and Lori Booth of Mineral City. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his lovely daughter, Connie C. Kinsey in February of 1967; four sisters, Carrie Kinsey, Ruth Maxwell, Genevieve Clark, and Jeanette Jackson; and two brothers, Calvin Kinsey and Harry R. Kinsey.Visitation will be held today, Tuesday, September 18, 2007, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Grange services will be held at 7:45 p.m. and a Masonic Lodge of Sorrow commencing at 8:00 p.m. A service celebrating Donald’s life will be held in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday morning beginning at 10:30 with Pastor Peggy Garner officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia. Friends and family are invited to the Mineral City United Methodist Church following the committal service where a meal will be hosted by Donald’s church family.The Kinsey family requests memorial contributions be directed to the Mineral City United Methodist Church, 4821 Davis St. PO Box 247, Mineral City, OH 44656.Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and view an online memorial by visiting the funeral home website.Linn-Hert-Geib(330) 343-5506www.geibfuneral.com