Dwight Lewis Kinard

Dwight Lewis Kinard, 92, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 3, 2017.  A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 9, 2017, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church, 1333 North 3rd, Abilene, Texas.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 6:30 pm on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Dwight was born on May 30, 1925, in Memphis, Texas, to D.L.C. and Lottie Kinard.  He spent his childhood in Memphis and after graduating from Memphis High School, he attended Baylor University until his enlistment in the U.S. Navy on February 5, 1943. He attended the Navy Supply Corps School at Harvard University where he was commissioned an Ensign.  Dwight then served as a Lieutenant on the USS San Juan CL 54, an anti-aircraft cruiser in Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet, a carrier strike force operating in the Pacific during World War II.

After release to inactive duty in July 1946, he completed his education at Baylor University and graduate school at the University of Texas, majoring in accounting.  He was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in 1948 and was still licensed at the date of his death.  He joined his brother, Cearley R. Kinard, to form the firm of Kinard & Co. Their firm later merged with Ben M. Davis & Co. to form the Certified Public Accounting firm of Davis, Kinard & Co. P.C.   The newly combined firm had seven shareholders and six staff members, and today has over a hundred shareholders and staff members.  He retired from the firm in October 1987.  While active as a CPA, he was a past President of the Abilene Chapter of CPAs.  Dwight also served as a member of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy in Austin, and was appointed to that position by then Governor Mark White.

He was married to Mary Margaret (Miggie) Graham on April 12, 1952 in Post, Texas, and they recently celebrated their sixty-fifth anniversary.  They became residents of Abilene in 1960 and members of First Baptist Church in 1961. Dwight served his church on the Building and Grounds, Budget, Personnel, Wills & Trusts and Finance Committees and also served as Church Treasurer.

Dwight was also active in civic affairs, serving as presidents of the YMCA and Southwest Abilene Rotary Club and later as a member of the Abilene Rotary Club.  He was also an honorary member of the Gunnison Colorado Rotary Club; and served as Treasurer of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.  He served on the boards of Mental Health – Mental Retardation (now known as the Betty Hardwick Center, MH/MR), and was a board member of Hendrick Health System, Hendrick Medical Center Foundation and Buckner Baptist Benevolences in Dallas.

Colorado was a special place to Dwight, where he spent his childhood summers camping out and trout fishing.  After retirement, he and Miggie spent many summers at their home on Spring Creek.  His love of the mountains was passed on to three generations of his family.

Dwight was preceded in death by his parents, D. L. C. and Lottie Kinard of Memphis, Texas, and by his brother Cearley R. Kinard of Abilene.  His survivors include his wife, Mary Margaret (Miggie) Kinard; his son and wife, Kelly and Terri Kinard of Abilene; daughter and husband, Darby and Jeff Blackburn of Round Rock, Texas, and sister Jerry Kinard Gailey of Lubbock, Texas.  He is also survived by six grandchildren; Leila and husband Jason Darby of Abilene, Texas, Lewis and wife Kelly of Fort Worth, Texas, Lauren and husband Zack McLarnon of Dallas, Texas, and Avery, Mallory, and Emery Blackburn of Round Rock, Texas.  Dwight was also blessed with nine great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Big Country, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, Texas 79605 or to the charity of your choice.