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Williamina Dewar Kinzy
April 7, 1932 – May 1, 2023

Williamina D. Kinzy, age 91, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. She was born in New York, NY to George and Elza Wilt. Williamina (Ina) and her family moved from New York to Santa Barbara when she was 12. In her senior year at Laguna Blanca High School, she met her future husband, John D. Kinzy, a senior at the University of Santa Barbara, on a blind date. Their first homes were in Dinuba and Hanford, CA.

In 1954, a former principal at Bishop Union High School, Gerald Ogborn, encouraged John to come to Bishop for a position of wood shop teacher at BUHS. So Ina and John moved their two daughters, Kathy and Kristy, to Bishop and settled down. Siblings Billy, Karen and Eddie were born in the following years at Northern Inyo Hospital.

Ina was a dedicated wife and mother, always putting her family first. She was very creative, enjoyed crafts, and always had a smile on her face. In her younger years she was competitive with entries in the Tri-County Fair. She loved digging for old bottles and was always hunting for treasures. She will be truly missed by her family.

Ina was preceded in death by her parents, George and Elza Wilt, her husband of 54 years, John D. Kinzy, her son Edward D. Kinzy, and her companion, William Rich. She is survived by her son, William F. Kinzy, daughters Katherine Nelson (Larry), Kristy Kinzy (Ed), Karen Clair (Doug), and daughter-in-law Kelly Kinzy Comontofski. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Jerami Schoeman, Jeri Baldwin (Thomas), Brandon Nelson (Sara), Wesley Nelson, Kody Nelson, Nathan Kinzy (Deanne), Gaylene Kinzy, Ryan Clair (Mary), Matthew Clair (Britney), Colton Kinzy (Chrissy), Hillary Orchard (Tanner). Ina is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren.

To honor our mother’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service. But she would want us to remember her for one of her favorite sayings (and she had quotes for every situation), “You attract more bees with honey than with vinegar!”

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