1927
Viola
2025
Viola Ray Gardner Kinman
December 11, 1927 — May 7, 2025
Fort Wright
Viola Gardner Kinman, Fort Wright, KY, passed peacefully to her eternal home on May 7, 2025. Born on
December 11, 1927 in Nicholasville, Kentucky to Pauline and Ray Gardner, she was the fourth of five
daughters. She lived her 97 years fully with grace, joy, and love.
Viola’s life was all about her faith and family. She connected easily with people making them feel special
and loved. Her smile and gift of hospitality were evident in all she did. She embraced the challenges of
life with courage and confidence because of her faith. As a 38-year breast cancer survivor, she
encouraged others as they were on their own treatment journey. With eight children, she was always
engaged in school, sports, and church activities with them. How she juggled it all was simply amazing.
The family jokingly referred to her as “Wonder Woman,” and indeed, she was.
Viola was a mom, wife, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Her
most beloved name was “Mamaw.” She stayed engaged in life through her family and experiences they
shared together. Viola enjoyed everything she did - - - singing in the choir, canning vegetables each
summer, playing golf, working jigsaw puzzles, watching Cincinnati Reds and UK Basketball, and spending
time with family, especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Food was one of her love
languages. If you ate at her table, you left happy especially when she made her famous fried chicken.
The love of Viola’s life was Joe, who she married in 1947. They were made for each other. They loved
building their family and sharing life together. She ensured everything on the home front went smoothly
while Joe advanced his career with State Farm Insurance. Viola enjoyed membership in the Kenton
Heights Women’s Club, was a former member of Fort Mitchell Country Club and member of Immanuel
Church.
Viola was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Kinman and son, Michael Kinman. Survivors include
son Tom Kinman (Betty) of Belmont, NC; daughters Paula Clements (Bill) of Fairfield, OH; Pat Avery
(Daniel) of Erlanger, KY; Becky Vittetoe (Henry) of Hebron, KY; Nancy G. Kinman of Fort Wright, KY;
Tammi Ruppert (Jon) of Walton, KY; son, Kenny Kinman (Jessica) of Covington, KY and sister, Juanita
Elslager of Burlington, KY. Viola leaves 18 grandchildren and 19 great-children whom she adored as well
as nieces and nephews.
The family would like to acknowledge and thank the exceptional nurses and care teams on 5D and 6D at
St. Elizabeth Medical Center (Edgewood) for care and attention for Viola and the family as well as
remarkable care from physicians, Dr. Jon Minzner and Dr. Jonathon Spanyer. In addition, the attentive
team at St. Elizabeth’s Cardiac Care Rehabilitation became her friends after many years of weekly
classes to keep her heart healthy.
Services include visitation on Thursday, May 15 th , from 4:00pm to 7:30pm at Immanuel Church.
Celebration of life services will be held on Friday, May 16 th at 11am followed by burial at Highland
Cemetery and a reception at Immanuel Church, 2551 Dixie Highway, Lakeside Park, KY. Elliston-Stanley
Funeral Home, Williamstown, KY, is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Viola’s memory to the Joe T. and Viola
Gardner Kinman Trust of Ministering to Ministers, c/o Leslie Carter, 3120 Sedgefield Gate, Greensboro,
NC 27407 or Immanuel Church, at the address above or https://immanuel-nky.org.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Viola Ray Gardner Kinman, please visit our flower store.
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