Earl T. “Tucker” Kinnett, SH1, U.S. Navy (ret), 78, of Homosassa, Florida, passed away on Wed., April 3, 2019 at Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness, Florida. A native of Aurora, Indiana, he was born April 20, 1940 to Halley and Pearl (Wells) Kinnett, one of five sons. Tucker, as he was known to many, served his country honorably and proudly in the United States Navy as a ship’s serviceman, attaining the rank of First Class Petty Officer after 21 years of faithful service. Earl served tours of duty in Vietnam and Iceland and ended his career aboard the USS Lexington in Pensacola, Florida. He then began a career as a jobber with Shell Oil Company in Indiana, a career that lasted another 21 years. He also delivered residential heating oil and was a beef cattle rancher in his native Indiana before retiring to Homosassa in 2005, with his wife of 32 years, Betty R. Kinnett, who survives him. Tucker loved deer hunting and playing cards. In addition to his parents, Mr. Kinnett was preceded in death by two brothers, Charlie and Bob Kinnett. In addition to his wife, he is survived by stepsons Jim Hurst, Homosassa, Florida and Greg Hurst, Aurora, Indiana; grandchildren Ashley Sprayberry (husband Nick) and Jacob Hurst (wife Victoria), both of Winston, GA; SSGT Zachary Hurst, currently stationed in Afghanistan with the National Guard and Jesse Groppenbecker (wife Candace), Cincinatti, Ohio; brothers Norman Kinnett of Wisconsin and Bill Kinnett of Dillsboro, Indiana; great grandchildren Kaitlyn, Kaleb, Kailey, Braxton, Noah, Katherine and Dexter and several nieces and nephews, including Debra Houchin (husband Jim) of Hidden Valley Lake, Indiana. Military honors will be rendered on Friday, April 19, 2019 at 1:30 P.M. from Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida, under the direction of Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa. www.wilderfuneral.com
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5