Martin Kinchen

Funeral Services for Martin D. “Papa Bear” Kinchen, 81, of Rusk, will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Robert Newton officiating. Burial to follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Kinchen passed away peacefully and quietly surrounded by his family on August 22, 2018. He was born January 9, 1937 in Providence, Texas to the late B.C. and Ruth Kinchen. He grew up and went to school in Afton Grove. He began working as a laborer on the pipeline at a young age, became a ditching machine operator, backhoe operator, ditch gang boss, and advanced to pipeline inspector, enjoying a career spanning over 50 years. He also spent most of the 80's operating his dairy farm with his family on Rider Road.

He was a fun loving man who loved to cook and spend time with his family. He loved the outdoors and was a lifelong avid hunter and fisherman. He loved to walk the woods to find unique limbs to bring home and finish into beautiful unique walking sticks. Papa Bear had the gift of keeping his humor in any situation. He was beloved by all of his family.

He is predeceased by his parents, daughter, Barbara Jean Kinchen, son, Darrell Wayne Kinchen, and sisters, Zella Marie Pomeroy, and Reba Lorraine Cummings.

He is survived by his wife, Pilar Kinchen of Rusk, son, Carl and his wife Maureen Kinchen of Dallas, daughter-in-law, Mary Lynn Kinchen of Mt. Selman, grandchildren, Elainia and her husband Joe Acker, Geoffrey Kinchen, Amanda and her husband Jordan Moses, and Daniel Wilson, great-grandchildren, Aaralynn and Rowan Acker, sister, Judy and her husband Jim Roth of Denver, and first wife, Patsy Lassiter of Rusk.

Visitation will be from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at the funeral home.