DOVER-FOXCROFT – Donald C. Kinney, 80, died Jan. 29, 2006, at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough. Mr. Kinney was born April 16, 1925, in Dover-Foxcroft, the son of Raymond A. and Lila (Gallup) Kinney. He graduated from Foxcroft Academy where he was a member of the Academy’s 1942 National Championship cross-country team, running at Seton Hall, New Jersey. He placed fifth for his own team and 96 among the hundreds competing in the final race. Mr. Kinney enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. He qualified for the Naval Aviation Program and began training to become an aviator, studying at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), Bates College, Williams College and Tufts University. The Naval Aviation Program was discontinued before his training was complete and he was transferred to general service for the remainder of World War II. In 1951, he returned to active duty, serving on the destroyer USS VanValkenburg in combat off the west coast of North Korea and in the Siege of Wosan. After detachment from Korea, his ship was on China Patrol between Taiwan and mainland China. Following discharge from this duty, he served in the Naval Reserve until retirement with rank of commander. He earned a B.A. degree from the University of Maine, Orono, where he was manager of the cross-country team. He later earned a B.S. degree from Portland University (now University of Southern Maine). Cmdr. Kinney was a student of military history throughout his life and traveled extensively pursuing this interest with particular emphasis on the American Civil War. As an elected member of the Gettysburg Civil War Institute, Gettysburg College, Pa., he participated regularly in their summer institute, held each year during the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Cdr. Kinney was an auditor for Eastern Trust and Banking Company in Bangor for several years following college. He was corporate trust officer for Maine National Bank, Portland from 1964, until retirement. He had also worked as an instructor of physics at Maine Maritime Academy, Castine and as stores officer on the academy’s annual training cruise. He had operated his own business, the Range Road Company, Dover-Foxcroft in the 1970’s. Cmdr. Kinney was a life member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, the U.S. Naval Institute, the Retired Officers Association, the Navy League, Scottish Rite Lodge, Bangor, Maine Consistory Scottish Rite, Portland and the American Legion Chadbourne-Merrill Post, Dover-Foxcroft. He was a member of the Mosaic Lodge of Masons, Dover-Foxcroft, Kora Temple Shrine, Lewiston and the National Rifle Association. He was past president of the American Institute of Banking, Bangor chapter and past vice president of Maine Reserve Officers Association. He was past treasurer of All Souls Congregational Church, Bangor. He is survived by one brother, Glendon C. Kinney of West Boyleston, Mass.; two sisters, Jeanette Cakouros and her husband, John, of Brunswick and Ruth Flowers and her husband, Herbert, of Burrillville, R.I.; a sister-in-law, Ruth Kinney of Dover-Foxcroft; several nieces and nephews, including two special nephews, David R. Kinney of Atkinson and Daniel C. Kinney of Brewer. He was predeceased by a brother, Richard R. Kinney of Bangor and Atkinson. Friends are invited to call 6-8 p.m. Thursday Feb. 2, at the Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft. Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the United Baptist Church, Dover-Foxcroft, with Assistant Pastor Shawn Darrah, officiating. Spring burial will be in the family lot in Dover Cemetery. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Civil War Preservation Trust, 1331 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, or to the assisted living facility where Mr. Kinney had resided prior to his move to the Maine Veterans’ Home Inn, at Village Square, 123 School St., Gorham, ME 04038.
USN CMDR DONALD C. KINNEY
