Kevin Robert Kinne

Kevin Robert Kinne, aka “The Button Man” and aka “Professor Kaboom” passed away February 5, 2020 at the age of 63 in a local hospital. He was the son of Robert and Alice Kinne. Kevin was born in Liberty, NY and attended Tri Valley School in Sullivan County, NY where at the age of 16 he quit high school and moved to Kentucky to attend Western Kentucky University where he received a B.S. in Geology and received his Masters in Geo Chemistry at the University of Kentucky.   After college he went to work at Zales Jewelers where he quickly became a manager. He was transferred to Athens, GA as a manager and then to the Atlanta area. This is where he met his wife, Marilyn Kinser Kinne, who also worked for Zales.   After leaving Zales, he managed Jewelry Emporium in Lenox Square Mall, where the sold antique and estate jewelry. After closing that store he and Marilyn hit the road and sold Antique Jewelry and Buttons. It soon became apparent he had a knack for buttons so they started selling all kind of buttons, from uniform to dress trade. He became known for his expertise and memory about all buttons, but especially the uniform. He loved to talk and share his knowledge with anyone who would listen.   Kevin was a member of the Kinser Church of God, where he served on the Trustee and Benevolence Boards. He taught a preteen Sunday School Class and the Royal Rangers on Wednesday nights. For years he was known as “Professor Kaboom” when he worked in Children’s Church and VBS.   He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Kinne; sister-in-law and husband, Sarah and Eugene Harrison; brother-in-law, Irvin Kinser; and nephew, Anthony Sherlin.   Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Kinser Kinne; mother, Alice Kinne; aunt, Mary Rogers; sister-in-law and caregiver, Gladys Sherlin; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Hope and Ted Hall, Jimmie and Charles Cooper; nieces,  Denise (Fredrick) Verner, Deanne (David) Barrick, Carroline (Rocco) Iacovelli, Kelly (Brian) Owens; and his special hairdresser, Beth (Lee) Rainey; nephews: Charles (Faye) Cooper, John (Rhonda) Cooper, Daniel Verner, Brent (Marti) Hall, Jay Sherlin, Kevin Kinser and two special nephews, father and son, Denzil (Mary) and Denzil, Jr (Jennifer) Cooper who made the last few months easier by coming to Kevin and Marilyn’s rescue; great nieces, Dedra (Adam) West, Jennifer (Nick) Guy, Camryn Rainey, Madison Sherlin; and several great, great nieces and nephews.   Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 7, 2020 at Kinser Church of God with the Reverend Guinn Green officiating. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens next to his favorite mother-in-law, Willie Mae Kinser. His nephews will serve as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be the members and former members of his Sunday school class and Wednesday night students.   His family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Friday at the church prior to the service.   Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.   We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Kinne family guestbook at www.fikefh.com