Obituary for Henry "Hank" William Kinnison, Jr. at Farrar Funeral Home (2024)

Henry William Kinnison, Jr. (Hank) was born on January 22, 1940, in Olla, Louisiana. Hank’s faith became sight on June 21, 2024, at the age of 84 years and 5 months. He was the oldest of 5 children born to Henry William Kinnison, Sr. and Kathryn Lee Martin Kinnison.

After graduating in 1958 from LaSalle High School in Olla, Hank moved to Ruston to continue his education at Louisiana Tech, where he majored in Mechanical Engineering and Speech. Shortly after starting his 3rd year at Tech, he met a young co-ed from Spearsville named Carolyn Wade in the campus laundromat. The two began to date and soon were a steady couple. Their dates included almost anything within walking distance of their dorms, as neither had a vehicle. Bulldog football games, movies at the Dixie Theater, and occasional pizza dinners off campus were the main events. Hank graduated from Louisiana Tech in the summer of 1962, becoming the first member of his family to earn a college degree. Only a few days after graduation, Hank and Carolyn were married at her home church of Beulah. The couple settled for a brief time in El Dorado, where Hank took a job with Woolworth department stores.

The couple was immediately transferred to Bossier, where Hank was in management, overseeing the opening of new Woolworth locations. After a year in Bossier, the couple were transferred to Baton Rouge, and after another year or so, to Little Rock, Arkansas. It was during the brief stop in Little Rock, that the 2 welcomed their first born, Chuck, into the world in October of 1964. By the spring of 1965, the young family was living in Memphis, and by early 1966, Hank was asked to transfer over to the new division of Woolworth called WoolCo, a big box retailer akin to today’s Walmart stores, and the family moved to Louisville, Kentucky.

In September of 1967, Hank and Carolyn welcomed their second child, a daughter, Renee. The family would live in northern Kentucky for 3 more years, before returning south in 1970. From 1970 to 1981, Hank and the family moved 4 additional times, before settling in Union Parish for good.

Hank became ordained as a deacon at Beulah Baptist Church, serving his church family for more than 30 years. His career evolved also, as he moved into field sales with hardware manufacturers and later, Procter and Gamble. It was his time with P&G that reintroduced him to retail management. He joined Brookshire’s/Super 1 Foods in 1987, serving in several managerial capacities at store locations in South Arkansas and North Louisiana, retiring from the Farmerville location in 2002. “Mr. Hank” was the face of the Farmerville Brookshire’s store for many years.

Hank LOVED his Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and New Orleans Saints. He and Chuck held season tickets to all of the Bulldogs’ home games for many years and enjoyed memorable road trips to Tulsa, Dallas, Houston and other locations. His love for the Red and Blue extended to Dunkin’ Dogs basketball, Lady Techster basketball, and Diamond Dog baseball. If you wanted to know anything about Louisiana Tech athletics, Hank could just about quote any of the statistics. He acquired the affectionate nickname of “Papa-Dawg” by friends, fellow fans at the games and family because of his love for his University.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry William and Kathryn Lee Kinnison, and one brother, Bobby Kinnison. Left to cherish his memory are: His wife of almost 62 years, Carolyn; children Chuck Kinnison and wife Marianne, and Renee Halley and husband Casey; grandchildren: Sarah Halley Newsom and husband Jeremy, Wade Halley and wife LeAnna, Chase Kinnison and wife Anna, and Collin Kinnison and wife Mandi; and 4 great-grandchildren: Rylan Newsom, Halley Kate Newsom, Thea Jo Halley, Hayes Kinnison and soon-to-arrive, Charlie Ann Kinnison.

He is also survived by his beloved siblings which include 2 brothers, Don Kinnison and wife Faye of Baton Rouge, and Ed Kinnison and wife Linda of Cordova, Tennessee; 1 sister, Dr. Sue Henderson and husband Gary of Jonesville, LA; cherished bonus siblings, Betty Kinnison of Jacksonville, Arkansas, Pat Douglas of Farmerville, and Percy Wade, Jr. and wife Lynette of Farmerville, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

The family wishes to thank our wonderful Beulah Baptist church family and our Pastor Adam Holloway, for the incredible love and support shown to our family during this time. Also, special thanks to Dr. Steven Venters, the wonderful staff of Farmerville Nursing and Rehab Center, Allegiance Hospice and RN Sonya Gray for taking great care of our dad.

Funeral services for Mr. Henry will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, June 24, 2024 at Beulah Baptist Church in Farmerville, LA with Bro. Adam Holloway officiating. Interment will follow at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Sunday, June 23, 2024 at Beulah Baptist Church.

Serving as pallbearers will be Wade Halley, Chase Kinnison, Collin Kinnison, Percy Wade, Jr., J.J. Johnson, and Scotty Thomas. Honorary pallbearers will be Ricky Hayes and Gary Johnson.

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