Robert Kinney Jr, World War II Navy SeaBee Veteran 1925-2011
Robert “June” Kinney Jr. was the oldest of two sons of Robert Roosevelt Kinney and Nellie Jones Kinney. At the age of 19 in 1944 he was inducted into the United States Navy. His brother, Shelton Lurin Kinney was also a Navy Veteran. They grew up in Ramseur, North Carolina and lived on the banks of Deep River.
June received training in Great Lakes Illinois, Camp Peary, Virginia, and Davisville, Rhode Island. When June Kinney was stationed in Rhode Island. He wanted to visit his cousin in New York but he couldn’t find him. He called his cousin’s mother back home and she had the cousin to come to the New York Central Train Station to get June. June said that he did not know what the turnstiles on the subway were for. Instead of putting money in them, he simply stepped over them.
Later, he was assigned to CB Detachment 1047, 128th Pontoon Battery, stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. When he received his orders, he journeyed across country in a train to Oakland, California where he shipped out to Hawaii. He said it took him several days and he was seasick.
June described his job at Pearl Harbor as being a inventory clerk at a warehouse where items were shipped all over the Pacific for the War. He had this job for the duration of the War and never saw battle.
On August 15, 1945, Japan’s Emperor Hirohito announced the acceptance of the terms of surrender and soon after V-J Day was celebrated in Hawaii where June was stationed.
On May 17, 1946, Seaman First Class Robert Kinney was discharged from the United States Navy. He came home from the states and took a job with Howell Painting Contractors in Asheboro, North Carolina where he met Kelly Lee from Chesterfield, South Carolina. Kelly took him home with him for the weekend to Chesterfield and he met Kelly’s sister, Margie. June and Margie married in Chesterfield on July 30, 1949. Margie was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Lee and Sarah Ellen Gulledge Lee.
Robert “June” Kinney was proud to be a Navy Veteran. He was proud of his grandson and namesake, Robert Daniel “Danny” Rogers when he joined the Navy. He would have been proud of his great-grandson Caleb Seth Rogers (Danny’s son) even though he joined the Army.
Shelton Lurin Kinney World War II Navy Veteran 1927-1997
Shelton Kinney as a child had the nickname of “Truck” because he always made Truck noises. He was in the Navy from June 1945 to June 1950 making him a World War II veteran. He married Lois Ann Williams at Chesterfield, South Carolina on December 2, 1950. Shelton worked at BB Walker Shoe Company and ran the injection mold machine to put on soles for shoes. Shelton Kinney loved his family, to pray (really loud) to his God, and he loved Snow and Pontiacs!! Shelton died in 1997 from complications from leukemia.
Albert Lee Cardwell Vietnam Veteran 1951-2016
Albert Lee Cardwell, Jr., 65 years of age, of Harrisburg, passed away Friday, September 2, 2016 at Carolinas HealthCare System Main in Charlotte. Albert was the son in law of Shelton Kinney.
Al was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He especially loved taking his grandchildren fishing, and was a vivid storyteller. Al honorably served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Al loved classic cars, and going to cruise-ins and car shows. He raced cars for over 20 years at Concord Motor Speedway and other local tracks. He later raced vintage cars in the Carolina Vintage Stockcar Racing Association.
Wilson Thomas Lee World War II Army Veteran 1919-1968
Wilson Thomas Lee was born December 30, 1919 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Benjamin Franklin Lee and Sarah Ellen Gulledge Lee. He was the oldest son, having one older sister, Nezzie. He worked on the family farm and with the WPA until he enlisted in the Army on November 21, 1942 at Fort Jackson.
Wilson spent his military time in Germany during World War II and was wounded. A German sniper shot off his trigger finger. He returned from the War and married Ella Mae Parker in Chesterfield, South Carolina on November 13, 1945. Wilson worked as a Painting Contractor with his brother Kelly Lee and brother-in-law June Kinney in Asheboro, North Carolina. He had three children – two daughters and a son.
Melvin Thomas Lee Vietnam Marine Veteran 1946-2004
Melvin Thomas “Tommy” Lee was a Vietnam Veteran and a Marine. He married Janice Lynn Routh. They lived in Asheboro and worked together painting. Janice died in 1989. Tommy then married Tammie Lynn Spicer. Tommy passed away in 2004.
Tommy was the son of Wilson Thomas Lee and Ella Mae Parker Lee. He is pictured with his mother with his Marine hair cut.
Eldridge Benjamin Lee World War II Army Veteran 1922-1987
Eldridge Benjamin was the third oldest child of Benjamin Franklin Lee and Sarah Ellen Gulledge. He had an older sister Nezzie and an older brother Wilson. He was born May 11, 1922 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He worked on the family farm and with the WPA until he enlisted in the Army at Fort Jackson, December 12, 1942
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Eldridge spent his time in the military in Germany where he sustained injuries to his back in a non-battle injury. He also met a German girl that he fell in love with but he was unable to bring her back to the States. Eldridge married Vernelle Smith in Hardee, Florida on April 18, 1946. Before they divorced they had a baby girl who died as a newborn and one son, Tony Renford Lee. His son, Tony also served in the Army. Eldridge worked as a carpenter after the war.
Tony Renford Lee 1949-2005
Tony, age 55, of Sophia died at Randolph Hospital. Mr. Lee was born the son of Eldridge and Vernell (Smith) Lee. Mr. Lee was a retired electrician. He was a US Army Veteran of the Vietnam era. Tony’s wife Patricia Kirkman Lee “Pat” died in 2007.
Willie Benjamin Johns World War II Army Veteran 1919-1989
Willie was married when he enlisted at Fort Jackson. He served time in Germany during the war. Willie Johns married Ruby Margarite Lee in Chesterfield, South Carolina on March 4, 1939. She was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Lee and Sarah Ellen Gulledge Lee.
Willie and Ruby had six children. Two of their sons served in the military.
Willie David Johns Army Veteran 1941-2000
Mr. Willie David Johns, 58 died June 30, 2000 . Mr. Johns was born in Chesterfield County a son of Ruby Lee Johns of Cheraw, SC, and the late Willie B. Johns. He was a retired Carpenter, a member of Westfield Creek Baptist Church, and was a US Army Veteran.
James Maynard Sings 1938-2019 Army and SC National Guard Veteran
Maynard was the oldest grandson of Benjamin Franklin Lee and Sarah Ellen Gulledge. His mother and father were Nezzie Virginia Lee Sings and “Jim” Sings of Chesterfield.
Maynard was a U.S. Army Veteran where he served as a paratrooper and a member of the S.C. Army National Guard. Maynard was a faithful member of Westfield Creek Baptist Church where he held the distinction as the third oldest member, joining in August of 1950. He was a retired employee of Delta Mills with 45 years of service.
Martha's Family Connections 