Howard Ethan Kinch, III (nicknamed “Sonny” by his mother) passed from this life on August 12, 2022, in Florence, Alabama. He was born November 17, 1953, in Oil City, Pennsylvania. Howard was the oldest son of the late Anna Louise Leibert Kinch and Howard Ethan Kinch, Jr.
Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Alice Brann Kinch, and their daughter, Jessica Lee Kinch. Survivors include his children, Michelle Rena’ Walter, Anna Louise Kinch Woosley (David), and Howard Ethan Kinch, IV (Meghan); granddaughter, Tiffany-Amber Nicole Stage; grandsons, Corey Devin-Lee Gomes, Bryan Austin Woosley, Justin Ethan Woosley, and Shon Jacob Woosley; great-granddaughter, Mara-Jade Ember Stage; his siblings, Tillie Hopkins, Gloria Varga (Stuart), Christopher Kinch (Carol) Loretta Kinch-Downey (Lennie), John Kinch (Sharleen), Alice Foradori (Keith), and Timothy Kinch (Pamela); as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Howard graduated from Butler High School in 1972 and joined the United States Coast Guard and served as a fire fighter while stationed at Natchez, Mississippi; he also served aboard the USCGC Dogwood, a 114-foot river buoy tender based out of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and had a tour of duty at the U.S. Coast Guard Base Honolulu, Hawaii. After his military service, Howard attended Drake Technical College and worked for Dilworth Lumber Company, Lewter’s Hardware, and Huntsville City Schools.
Howard was an Eagle Scout as a youth and later served as a Scout Leader. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, carpentry, photography, model trains, taxidermy, and watching Westerns (especially John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies).
Visitation will be at Laughlin Service Funeral Home from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, with the funeral service immediately following. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery.
The family expresses their sincerest appreciation and thanks to the Regency Retirement Village, Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Laughlin Service Funeral Home.
