Donald Ludford Kinch was born December 1934, in Kingston, New York, to Howard and Ruth Kinch. Dad lived in Kingston as a youth and had many great stories to tell about his time there. He said that he saw Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944 during the President’s last presidential campaign.
His family moved to California in 1947 where they joined Dad’s older brother and sister who had moved prior. He went to schools in Santa Monica and where he studied, played varsity football, and met our mom, Bonnie. Both Mom and Dad graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1952, after which Dad took classes at Santa Monica City College. Dad was called to serve in the United States Army in 1954 and served at Fort Ord, California, and with post occupation forces in Okinawa. Dad enjoyed his service in the army but was anxious to be discharged so that he could get back to California and to our mom, who he married in September 1956, in Santa Monica.
Dad and Mom made their first home in Santa Monica, where dad worked for his brother-in-law, Dick Mapleston, in his carpet cleaning business and while studying to be a chiropractor. While in Santa Monica, Mom and Dad had their first child, Julie, in December 1960. They then moved to Altadena, where they had their first son, Steven on June 6, 1962, but he passed away on June 8, 1962.
In 1962 Dad began working for Ross Laboratories and had a very successful career as a salesman. While at Ross he made many lifelong friends, many with whom he enjoyed hunting and fishing.
In March 1963, Dad and Mom moved to Monrovia and into their beloved house of fifty-eight years. In May 1963, their second son, Robert, was born. Their fourth and final child, was born in September 1967.
Dad worked hard at Ross, eventually becoming a district manager. He was on the road a lot, but he was a positive force in the lives of those he worked with. He was active in his children’s’ lives, supporting their various sporting and other activities.
He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in many capacities. Dad was always of service to those in need, many times serving and helping without fanfare while being an example to his children.
Dad retired from Ross in 1994. During retirement he enjoyed traveling to and visiting his children and grandchildren, who were spreading around the west. He also enjoyed very much volunteering for the Monrovia Police Department, doing many needed tasks to help the MPD to run smoothly and serving in the community that he loved for many years.
As time went on and he advanced in age, Dad had to quit the police department and really retire. He was able to be a greeter at church, a job he really enjoyed, and remained a friend to all. Even while he was ailing, he could still muster a joke with a twinkle in his eye.
In 2020, Dad’s health was failing, necessitating a move into Countryside Living in Queen Creek, Arizona to be near his son, Tom. His beloved wife, Bonnie, passed away on October 5, 2021, just a couple of weeks after their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary. After Mom passed, Dad’s health continued to fail, and he passed away on May 19, 2022. He is survived by his children, Julie, Robert, and Tom; and his grandchildren, McKella, Makenna, Shawn, Brian, Zane, Chandler, JT, Adam, Morgan, and Erianne. He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, his son Steven, his parents, his brother, Bill, and sister, Jackie.
The family would like to thank the staff at Countryside Living for their excellent care of Dad during his final days.
Graveside services will be held at Live Oak Memorial Park, 200 East Duarte Road, Monrovia California at 9:00am on Friday, June 17, 2022.