John Bill William Kingery

John William (Bill) Kingery, 93, died May 24, 2015 in his home surrounded by his family. Born on December 10, 1921 in Swainsboro, Georgia, he attended public elementary school in Swainsboro and Richmond Academy in Augusta. He enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked and was assigned to the Construction Battalions. He was later selected for officer training; and, as part of that training, attended the University of North Carolina and Emory University. After the war ended, Bill decided to leave active military service. He then transferred to the University of Georgia, where he earned a degree in business administration. While in the Navy, Bill became interested in the Catholic faith through contacts with a priest and was baptized as a Catholic while a student at the University of Georgia. He also met Jolaine, his future wife, during this time. After graduation he married and worked for Atlantic Richfield Oil Company in Baltimore. Shortly afterwards, he and Jolaine moved back to Atlanta, where Bill took a position as the first salesman for Concrete Manufacturing Company, a company her father, John Bailey, had started in 1926. When Mr. Bailey died in 1960, Bill partnered with his brother-in-law to manage the business. Later the business was divided. Bill’s part of the business was named Kingery Block Company. By the time this company was sold in 1985, the number of employees had increased from 30 to 150. Throughout his life, Bill was actively involved in the Catholic Church, including being part of the original team that brought the Cursillo Movement to Atlanta and serving on numerous committees at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and School. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Jolaine. He is survived by daughter, Karen McConnell, and her husband, Michael; daughter, Patricia McCarty; son, John Kingery, and his wife, Claudia; daughter, Collette Sherry, and her husband, Bob; daughter, Theresa Forman, and her husband, Dan; son, Michael Kingery; son, Patrick Kingery; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Visitation will be at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Vigil will begin at 7:00 PM. A reception will follow in the historic church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.