Barbara Jennings Kinney

May 11, 1931 - February 20, 2022

Mom had the privilege and blessing of growing up in Washington D.C. In her quiet and unassuming way, she would share how she witnessed world and national events. Holidays and happy summers were spent in a city she loved, Bethlehem, PA, with her grandparents and extended family. It was there she met our father, Al Jennings. After she graduated from Randolph Macon Women’s College they were married. Thus began her life of travels. Dad’s career with Alcoa took our family to many places east of the Mississippi River. In each new community mom made sure we had friends, activities we enjoyed and a sense that we were at home. As we moved, we got to see the beauty and history of each new location. At the same time, the generational family tradition of summer vacations in Ocean City NJ were treasured. We rode bikes on the boardwalk, ate Copper Kettle Fudge, went crabbing with our PopPop and spent hours playing on the beach and in the ocean. When a move with Alcoa brought our family “out west” to Wenatchee during our early teenage years again Mom did all she could to make this new city our home. She helped us get acquainted with new friends and encouraged us to pursue activities we enjoyed such as ballet, music, Girl Scouts, Wenatchee Youth Circus and more. Mom embraced Wenatchee as her home also. She was active in the formation of Mobile Meals of Wenatchee, (serving as volunteer for over 40 years), as a Girl Scout Cookie Chairman, with the Wenatchee Civic Ballet, the Wenatchee Duplicate Bridge Club and more. Her lifelong love of bridge took a greater place in her life. Her bridge friends share this memory: “Barbara was a cornerstone of the Wenatchee Duplicate Bridge Club. She was an excellent player and a beloved friend to many members of the Club. She enthusiastically taught beginning bridge and was a mentor to many returning bridge players. Her exceptional ethics and decorum earned her a place on the National Goodwill Committee. Her non-judgmental calmness, kindness, and patience always made a day, as her partner at the bridge table, a good day”. New travels and interests filled her life when she married Jerry Kinney. Together they explored Europe and the United States. During this time, Mom created our own “Ocean City” memories for us, her now adult daughters and our families, by hosting annual summer vacations in Manson on the lake. Days were spent swimming, playing games, reading, cooking delicious meals together, going to the water slides and more. The year she turned 65 she decided to try 65 new things and one was parasailing. She went tandem with one of her granddaughters! Mom’s love of live theater, ballet and classical music was passed on to us as she took us to performances in Seattle and Wenatchee. The memories and values she imparted in us will be cherished forever. One of the most meaningful being the belief that family members are also cherished friends. My sisters and I and our children live a life blessed by this ideal. Some of her grandchildren’s memories include: “Recipes and food were always a constant in our relationship. It all started with a recipe named “Tomato Soup for Jennifer”. The simple and unassuming recipe had an unusual ingredient to my 12-year-old mind…potatoes. I didn’t care for the potatoes in the soup, but this was the gateway that opened my eyes to tweaking and adjusting it to my own preferences. I still have that original recipe... only today 30 + years later, I make it my way…without potatoes.” “Grandma would knit dishcloths and I showed interest in learning how, so she taught me how to knit and I am still knitting 22 years later. Grandma made all of us knitted Christmas stockings, and one year she had a few to make, so I was helping her make them, and she guided me with the harder parts of the stocking. Growing up I remember looking forward to our Wednesday lunch at your house, spending the night and putting make up on together in the morning. I love you and miss you Grandma.” "We had the joy of growing up in the same town as grandma. Part of our weekly routine was lunch visits. This tradition continued when I had my own children. Grandma would often bring juice or fruit to share with my kids. My favorite memory was last summer when, at age 90, grandma climbed up into the new play structure in our backyard to have lunch with my 5 year old daughter!" She is loved and missed by her husband, Jerry Kinney, daughters Sandy Jennings Briggs (Ernie), Sharon Vetter Hoynes; grandchildren: Elisabeth Briggs, Laura Nelson (Chris), Emma Wright (Bowe), Kyle Vetter, Aaron Vetter, Katherine Vetter, Jennifer McMains and Daniel McMains, and stepsons Jeff and Mark Kinney. Her four great grandchildren brought joy to her life – Eleanor and Werner Nelson; Cooper and Willa Vetter. Mom was preceded in death by her daughter Susan Jennings McMains and son-in-law Mark Hoynes. A private, family gathering will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Mobile Meals of Wenatchee, PO BOX 1343, Wenatchee WA 98807. [email protected]