Obituary of Jane Kinard

Jane Whitesides Kinard passed in peace and comfort into the hands of God the way she always wanted, in her own home of 44 years at Skyline Crest in Monterey. Before passing peacefully of natural causes, she was bright and alert for a slightly early 99th birthday celebration joining members of her family just two weeks ago. Born November 25, 1917, in Germantown, Pennsylvania, Jane lived a full and complete life. She grew up in a military family; her father, John Garrett Whitesides, served with Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and later in the early Army Air Corps. Her mother, Nora LeBrou Whitesides, moved to Carmel after Major Whitesides died and raised the eight Whitesides children. Jane, the oldest girl and third oldest child, managed to outlive that rambunctious and adventurous family. Her early years were ones of constant moving, living in The Philippines and around the States. She maintained that peripatetic lifestyle by marrying William Henry Kinard, Jr. in San Francisco soon after his graduation from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point in 1936. As an Army officer’s wife, Jane occupied many roles in addition to wife and mother of three. She was an entertainer/hostess, diplomat, and volunteer for hospitals and the Red Cross as part of her responsibilities. Right after WWII ended, the family lived in Berlin where Colonel Kinard was Chief of Information for the military government in Germany and Jane got her start with the important political responsibilities of an officer’s wife. And at the tail end of Colonel Kinard’s career, she hosted many dignitaries, including the former Shah of Iran, as the wife of the Chief of the Military Mission to the Imperial Iranian Gendarmerie. Of course there were many postings and many responsibilities in between, including three years at Ft. Bragg, NC, where Colonel Kinard headed the Psychological Warfare School after being instrumental in its founding and the inception of the renowned Green Berets. In 1970, Jane and Bill moved to Carmel Valley after his retirement and then to Skyline Crest in 1972. After Bill died of cancer in 1983, Jane eventually married another Skyline Crest resident, Wayne Dellinger, who passed away ten years later in 2001. Jane enjoyed her years with Wayne’s wonderful family. Although Jane volunteered for several local organizations, and served as an early member of the Skyline Crest Association Board, her attention in later life was mostly centered on her family, which while extended geographically, was totally devoted to her, their matriarch, their rock. She is survived by her daughter Ariail Haskins (long resident of Monterey now in Eagle Point, OR); son William H. Kinard III (Colonel, USA, Ret, USMA 1962) of San Jose, CA; son R. Chris Kinard (USMA 1965) of Monterey; and her six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Her remains will be carried back to the West Point Cemetery for burial next to her first husband. There will be a memorial mass for Jane at her beloved San Carlos Cathedral at --- on September --. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to San Carlos Cathedral. Service Information