Roy Milton Kinsey

Roy M. Kinsey, age 89, died peacefully at his home in Salem on 9 December 2010. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jean Johnson Kinsey, who died in 2000. He is survived by two sons, Roy M. Kinsey, Jr. and wife, Pat, of Pensacola, Florida, and G. Scott Kinsey and wife, Laura, of Sheldon, South Carolina. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Jennie Marie Kinsey of Pensacola, Florida, and Sarah and Carolyn Kennedy of Sheldon, South Carolina. Roy was born in New York City. A star athlete at Bayside High School, he was named to the all-city soccer team his senior year. After graduation, he served in the United States Army before beginning the study of architecture at the University of Virginia in the fall of 1940. Roy was a combat veteran of World War II. Like many of his generation, the war interrupted his education. He joined the Marine Corps, which sent him to Princeton University in the V-12 program, followed by Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. After being commissioned a second lieutenant, Roy was assigned to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Randolph as one of three officers in her Marine detachment. The Randolph served in the Pacific where, as part of famed Task Force 58, she fought in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and later launched attacks on Tokyo and the home islands of Japan. When the war ended, Roy returned to the University of Virginia. After earning his architectural degree, he moved his young family to Roanoke and began the practice of architecture with the old Roanoke firm of Smithey and Boyington. A staunch Marine, Roy remained in the Marine Corps Reserve. His civilian life was again interrupted when the Korean War broke out and his reserve unit was activated. He remained in the Marine reserves after the war, eventually retiring as a colonel after serving his country for more than 35 years. In 1955 he established the architectural firm that continues today as Kinsey, Shane & Associates. Buildings designed by the firm include Salem High School, Roanoke College Administration Building, Roanoke College Student Union, Christiansburg High School, Melrose Christian Church, St. Phillip Lutheran Church, Salem Baptist Church, Double Envelope Corporations manufacturing plant, First National Banks Salem Branch, City of Salem Safety Building, Rowe Furniture Corporations manufacturing and frame plants, Town of Vinton Library, Red Lion Motel in Blacksburg, General Electric Employees Credit Union office building, Virginia Western Community College Occupational & Technical building, residence for retired Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Randolph M. Pate, and Salem Animal Hospital. Roy retired from the active practice of architecture in 1983. Friends are invited to join the family for a memorial and celebration of Roys life at 2:00 p.m., Monday, 20 December 2010, at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home, 305 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, Virginia. A visitation will follow until 4 p.m. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.johnmoakey.com. The Kinsey family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral and Cremation Service in Salem, 540-389-5441.