During his childhood, Mr. Kinser worked, played tennis, was on the high school football team and the championship basketball team, and graduated valedictorian of his class. He attended the University of Arkansas and Drury College in preparation for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He graduated with the Class of ‘47 and was assigned to a battleship, USS Wyoming, in Norfolk, VA.
He married Marion Pullen in December 1946 and they moved to Ocean View, VA. After three years on battleships, he decided to get into the Naval Aviation program. He had a daughter, Shelley, before moving to Pensacola for flight training. He received advanced training in Corpus Christi where he received his wings. From there, he reported to VP-9 in Alameda, CA with family. He flew missions in Alaska and Hawaii until he was sent to Iwakuni, Japan for the Korean War. He flew anti-submarine and flare missions out of bases in South Korea. Aircrafts he flew over the years included P2V, PB4Y-2, SNJ, SNB, and T-28. LCDR Kinser also received an Air Medal. After the war, he returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor. Three years later he attended intelligence school and was assigned to a unit based in Washington, D.C.
He finished his tour of duty in Pensacola at NAS. After 23 years, he retired from the Navy in 1966 and opened Artesana Imports, a gift shop on Garden Street in Downtown Pensacola with his wife, Marion. They built a Spanish home in Pensacola Beach on Sabine Drive. After over 20 years at Artesana, Marion departed this Earth.
In 1988, he married Jane Woolf and they lived in the house on Pensacola Beach before moving to Port Royal, where he had a 36-foot sailboat. He enjoyed sailing with friends, traveling all over the world, playing tennis, spending time at the Pensacola Yacht Club, and visiting their children and grandchildren.
Mr. Kinser supported over 40 organizations including the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, the Carter Center, and the U.S. Naval Academy.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Esmarie Mary Moret Gillioz and Maurice Ernest (M.E.) Gillioz, his parents, Alma Mignonne Kinser and Ralph Henry Kinser, Sr., his sister Laura Barone King, and his wife, Marion Kinser.
Mr. Kinser is survived by his loving family, including his wife Jane Kinser, his daughter Shelley Kinser, his stepson Wesley (Lauren) Woolf, his stepdaughter Alice Ann (Howie) Ferguson, his grandchildren Hastings Kinser (Edward) Malone, Trevor (Carolyn) Woolf, Brittany (Miah) Idema, Alissa (Bryce) Vallee, Blythe Ferguson, Brooke Ferguson, Hayley Woolf, Bethel Woolf, Bryan Woolf, David Woolf, Trenton Woolf, and Mason Woolf, great-grandchildren Shyla, Juniper, Cade, Callan, Greyson, Wyatt, and Avery, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Bayview Fisher-Pou is in charge of arrangements.
A Memorial Service with full military honors will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Flight Academy, 1750 Radford Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32508 or The PYC Satori Foundation, Inc., 1897 Cypress St., Pensacola, FL 32502.
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