Robert Kindred

Pantagraph.com Sunday, May 24, 2009

ATLANTA -- Robert Lowell Kindred, 84, of Atlanta, went to be with his Lord at 5:25 p.m. Saturday (May 23, 2009) at the Hopedale Medical Complex in Hopedale. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Atlanta Christian Church, with Mr. Maurice Stribling and Mr. Doug Lowery officiating.

Burial will be in the Atlanta Cemetery, with military rites accorded. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Atlanta Christian Church, and one hour before the service Wednesday.

Robert’s Grandfather Kindred and family migrated from Kentucky to Illinois in the fall of 1881, driving through in a covered wagon with a blind team and chain harness. It took 21 days to make the trip, settling in the Moore’s Mill area.

Robert was born March 15, 1925, at the Deaconess Hospital, Lincoln, to William Fountain and Anna Electa Kindred. He was the seventh child of eight children, and the fourth son. With his parents living in the Ebenezer community, he attended New Kentucky Grade School until his parents moved to the Dunham property west of Atlanta, where he then attended the Atlanta Grade School and the Atlanta High School, graduating in 1943.

Robert was very much into all sports during high school, but baseball was his real love and as a left-handed pitcher he developed a good curve ball. After high school, he played ball with the Bloomington Municipal League, sometimes having to hitchhike to get there, and also played for Atlanta in the Tri-Valley League which caused him to pitch against his own brother, Wayne, who was pitching for Armington.

In 1948, Robert received an invitation to try out for the Chicago Cubs but “Uncle Sam” had also sent an invitation for him to report for duty for his Country. While stationed in Texas, he enjoyed pitching on the Camp team.

Upon his discharge, he returned home and became manager of the Blue Seal Service Station on the corner of Arch and Vine streets in Atlanta. With Robert’s sense of humor, the station became a favorite place for many to share stories and a lot of laughs.

Robert was home about six weeks when he received an invitation from a minor league in Texas to join them for spring training. The invitation came through a scout seeing him pitch on the Army team. It didn’t take long for Robert to hire someone to manage the station, pack his bags, and head to Texas to hear the call “play ball.” He signed with the Colts and later with the Longhorns, where he played until he injured his arm, thus putting an end to his career. Today, they would be able to correct this type of injury.

Robert returned to manage the Service Station. In 1957, he sold the station, went to work for Prudential Insurance Co. for 18 years, then worked for SchmidtMarcotte Implement Co. until his retirement in 1990.

Robert married Helen Vogt Feb. 18, 1951. She passed away on Jan. 17, 1996. He then married Mary E. Ogg on Oct. 12, 2002. She survives.

He is also survived by two daughters, Linda (Gary) Allen of Indianapolis, and Janet (Paul) Wisniewski of Ottawa; one stepdaughter, Rosemary (Doug) Lowery of Decatur; five grandsons, Jeremy (Emily) Allen of Indianapolis, Michael Allen of Bailey, Colo., Joel Allen of Indianapolis, and Timothy and Andrew Wisniewski of Ottawa; one stepgrandson, Robert Lowery of Chatam; two stepgranddaughters, Becky (Phil) Heppner of Fayetteville, Ark., and Debby (Scott) Inman of Mt. Pulaski; and 10 stepgreat-grandchildren, Allison, Anna, Reagan and Maggie Heppner; Max, Jude, Brooke and Page Lowery; and Madison and Reece Inman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, four brothers and three sisters.

Robert was a member of the Atlanta Christian Church. He loved his Lord, his family and friends, his Country and his hometown, Atlanta. He left a prayer that all his family and friends would meet him in heaven.

Memorials may be made to the Atlanta Christian Church, the Atlanta United Methodist Church, The Atlanta Assembly God, the Hopedale Nursing Home, the Atlanta Betterment Fund or the A-Team.

Quiram Peasley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.