Richard Alan Kinder

Richard (Rick) Alan Kinder passed away on March 7, 2026. Rick was a lifelong bibliophile, learner, and natural teacher. He was loving, devoted, and a fierce protector of the love of his life, his wife Charlene. He was always respectful, mannerly, and kind. He had a mischievous, dry, and exceptional sense of humor which gave Charlene and those around him a lot of joy.

Rick never stopped his learning quest and continued taking classes and reading books on every subject imaginable for his entire life. He was a voracious reader, reading 4-7 books at the same time, subscribing to various newspapers and magazines, and diving into various subjects on his computer.

After graduating from Warwood High School in Warwood, West Virginia, he continued his formal education at the United States Military Academy at West Point and achieved his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Rick was in the United States Army where he achieved the rank of Captain. He was a field artillery instructor at Schofield Barracks Army base in Hawaii and at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Rick met Charlene at the accounting firm Arthur Young in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He continued his financial career with Duquesne Light Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was the Chief Financial Officer at Horsehead Corporation Zinc Plant in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

Rick found his life’s purpose in teaching. He became a Professor in the Business School of Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. His working years at the college were some of his happiest. He enjoyed teaching, interacting with the students, being an advisor, and just being part of an institution of learning. He and his wife took advantage of guest lecturers, concerts, plays, and many of the activities of college life. He was well-loved by his students. He continued to make a difference in young lives by tutoring at Fruitland Park Elementary School and teaching chess to students across Sumter County.

Rick and Charlene traveled together, went to museums, enjoyed the symphony, ballet, small music ensembles, Broadway musicals, theatre, and hiked in the woods. It did not matter…for Rick it was about being together. Charlene was Rick’s best friend, cheerleader, and defender.

Rick is predeceased by his parents, Patsy Denney Kinder and Walter Richard Kinder. He is survived by his wife Charlene; his loving caregiver Gibran “G” Kamaludin, his sisters Carol Kinder and Pamela (Kinder) Mitch; his nieces Kelly Kinder and Kelly (Fodor) Reis; his nephews Scott Mitch, Kevin Mitch, and Bradd Fodor; and his grandnieces and grandnephews Riley Mitch, Cooper Mitch, Jonathan Mitch, Jackson Mitch, Carli Reis, and Chloe Reis.

Services and inurnment at Bushnell National Cemetery will be determined at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen (wildwoodsoupkitchen.org).