Having lived well and loved well, John Patrick Kinney released his hold to life on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2018, following a short battle with metastatic lung cancer.
Celebration of Life: John was a spiritual man who respected many faiths. His wish was that no formal funeral be held, but rather, a gathering to celebrate his life. This celebration will be held at Colonial Country Club at 3 pm on Saturday, March 24, 2018. Please bring your stories of John to share with all of us who also adored him, as well as any rites or observances you wish to share to send him off. To allow everyone the opportunity to share their love for John, please restrict your contribution to 5 minutes.
Memorials: Those wishing to make memorial donations may consider The First Tee of Fort Worth or a charity of their choice.
John’s noble and embracing approach to the dying process was a gift to all he leaves behind. He chose not to pursue treatment but to live to the fullest until it was time to leave. His acceptance of his fate, and his grace and courage in sharing himself with those who loved him was a remarkable example and an act of the deepest kind of generosity. John Patrick Kinney III was born in San Antonio on December 3, 1941, to Jeanne Lane and Jack Kinney. He was the beloved older brother of his sister Delane. As a young man, John married Jennifer Miller (née Thompson). Together they had three children, John “Josh” Patrick IV, Jason, and Jill. Later in his life, John married Elizabeth Baker with whom he shared 28 happy years. Not only did he delight in being a father and grandfather to Josh, Jason, Jill and their respective children, he also became a central figure in the lives of Elizabeth’s three girls and grandchildren. With all who knew him, John freely shared his love and positive outlook.
John graduated from New Mexico Military Institute and attended TCU. He served as a sergeant in the reserve of the U.S. Marine Corps. Throughout his professional life—which included stints in banking, auto leasing and insurance—his extraordinarily engaging personality fueled his successes. For the past 26 years, he worked as an insurance agent helping his clients navigate the maze that is supplemental Medicare. John loved the opportunity to serve his clients and had many funny tales to share about encounters he’d had in his work. An avid golfer and a TCU football fan, he enjoyed trips to Florida and Arizona with old friends for baseball spring training. John was a student of history and had a particularly keen interest in that of the American Southwest. Meandering by car, he and Elizabeth enjoyed many wonderful trips throughout the southwest.
Survivors: John is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Baker; his sister, Delane Kinney and her partner, Deborah Boelter, of Dallas; his children and their spouses, Josh and Kari Kinney, Jason and Amy Kinney, and Jill and Gabe Cespedes, as well as his stepdaughters and spouses, Kendal King, Angela and David Kocher, all of Ft. Worth, and Stacey and Chris Haggard of Oklahoma City. Also surviving are his grandsons, Dylan and Elliot Kinney, Luke and Grey Cespedes, Sam Kocher, and Nicholas Haggard.
