Following a brief illness, Eugene Kinard passed away at Piedmont Hospital in Macon on September 10, 2024, a few days short of his 89th birthday.  Born in Sumter County, Georgia on September 13, 1935 to the late Barney E. and Irene T. Kinard, he was one of 11 children in a close knit and loving family.   The family later moved to Vienna, Georgia where, in addition to his work on the family farm, Eugene enjoyed playing both basketball and running track at Vienna High School.  It was also there, he met Annette Forehand, his treasured wife of 69 years.

Leaving farm life in 1955, Gene began a career in the debit insurance business, quickly moving into management.  Throughout his career there, he consistently was among the company leaders in production resulting in many promotions and moves including South Carolina and Louisiana before returning to Georgia in 1980.  Soon after returning to Georgia, he made a midlife career change buying Man’s World, a small clothing store in Macon.  With his work ethic, drive, and his innate ability to interact with people, the one small store quickly became 2 large stores and was known throughout middle Georgia as the place to buy good clothes and get even better service. He operated this business until his retirement, which was spent playing golf, working around the house and yard, and spending time with Annette.

Wherever he moved, he was immediately at home.  He wasn’t in any new location very long before he was active in the community and church, always resulting in a leadership position in those organizations.  His smile, quick wit, and natural charm attracted people.  He made everyone feel important and that their day was better by having been around him.  His impact on those he worked with and encountered is still felt.

The thing that brought him the most pride and the most joy was his family, both immediate and extended. He considered his most important responsibility to be the best husband and father he could be, and he excelled.   His loving discipline earned him the respect, love, and unending appreciation of his children, and the adoration of grandchildren.  He will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.

In addition to his wife, Annette, he is survived by his children: Jeff and Amy Kinard, Jerrett and Kathleen Kinard, and Joy and Billy Daniels, seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his brothers, Thomas, W.C., and Lee, his sister, Ann Nutt, along with his brothers-in-law, Dwayne and Carl Forehand, and sister-in-law, Betty Forehand.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Frank, James, and Virgil, as well as his sisters, Mary Frances Bailey, Marie Nelson, and his twin sister, Pauline Sims.

Graveside services will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, September 11 in Vienna City Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3380 Chastain Meadows Parkway NW, Suite 200, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144.

Brannen-NeSmith Funeral Home of Vienna has charge of arrangements.