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Obituary for Jeanne Ruth Betz Kinney
Jeanne Ruth Betz Kinney, age 87 of Parker, Colorado, made her journey home to Heaven on September 24th, 2021. She is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Richard B. Kinney. Jeanne was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1933. She graduated from Withrow High School in 1952 then attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio to pursue a Liberal Arts Degree.
At University she met her future husband and life partner, Richard ‘Dick’ Kinney. Jeanne married and followed Dick into the USAF and lived for three years as a military wife in Texas and Delaware until his discharge. Returning to the Cincinnati area Dick began his professional life in sales and management for NCR, while Jeanne ran the household and began raising their family. Moving due to work transfers and promotions, Jeanne, Dick and their two boys lived in Hamilton, Ohio; New Castle, Pennsylvania; Dayton, Ohio; Penfield, New York; and Skaneateles, New York, where, in each place she created a beautiful home for her growing family and made lifelong friends. Over time, Jeanne returned to the workforce and held several positions including Bookkeeper at an engineering firm, Executive Secretary at a venture capital firm, and seven years as the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO of Laubach Literacy International in Syracuse New York. She held a variety of volunteer positions including being an active member of the Jaycee’s in New Castle, PA, and working on behalf of the League of Women Voters, in Rochester, NY. Jeanne and Dick retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico and later moved to Colorado to be closer to their sons' families and grandchildren.
Jeanne and Dick were avid sailors, cruising small lakes in Pennsylvania and then the shores of Lake Ontario from their home base at the Sodus Bay Yacht Club, where they were very involved in its active and vibrant social community. Other interests that Jeanne shared and participated in with family and friends included travel, snow skiing, and chasing hot-air balloons across New Mexico. Travels included sailing in the British Virgin Islands and cruises from the Mediterranean Sea to the inside passage of Alaska, exploring Ireland, Europe, and Egypt. Jeanne was an avid and passionate reader and accomplished seamstress. Over the years she sewed many scouting patches and proudly helped both sons attain the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
Jeanne ‘Nana’ was deeply involved and was a major presence in the lives of her three grandchildren. She shared her unconditional love and life knowledge with each one of them as she supported them at every stage, and in every aspect of their lives.
Jeanne is survived by her sons Philip R. Kinney and his wife Jennifer; Greg S. Kinney and his wife Joan; and grandchildren Joseph, Shannon, and Regan.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Littleton on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 11:00 AM.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, please consider a donation in Jeanne's memory to either the First Presbyterian Church of Littleton or or National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc (both addresses can be found below under the MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTION section).
