Billy G. Kincaid

Deeply loved and dearly admired, Billy George Kincaid added much to the lives of others. Although a hardworking man, Bill knew how to enjoy life doing the things he loved most with his beloved Rosemary by his side. A giant of a man with an even bigger heart, Bill had the bluest of eyes which endeared him to many. Gone but never to be forgotten, Bill leaves lasting memories to be forever cherished in the hearts of those he leaves behind.


Born on August 25, 1945 in the small community of Fillmore, Kentucky, Billy G. Kincaid was the son of Billy W. and Geneva (Barker) Kincaid. As the victorious end to World War II was news of the day, joy and celebration continued the world over. The baby boom was off and running and the need for housing reached new levels as plans for suburban neighborhoods began to take shape across America.


Bill spent his early years growing up along the sprawling hillsides of eastern Kentucky with his sisters, Edwina and Evelyn, and his brothers, David and Doyle with whom Bill shared many adventures. As a young boy he spent time shooting guns, and later in life he liked to go out shooting with his wife. During his youth Bill enjoyed building wheelchairs and wagons out of anything he could get a hold of. Hed often push and pull his siblings around, and on more than one occasion he even sent them flying down hillsides in the wagons he enjoyed making out of potato crates.


When Bill was around six years old, his father took a job up north in northern Indiana. While his father looked for a place for his family to live, Bill and the rest of his family remained in Kentucky, staying with his grandparents. His father found a house and the family soon joined him in the Columbia City area where they made their home. Bill attended the local schools and went on to graduate from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1963.


Bill no sooner graduated from high school and landed a job working at Dana Weatherhead in Columbia City. He was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War on October 28, 1965. It made for worrisome hearts back home, but at the end of his tour he returned home to his thankful family and friends. Following his honorable discharge from the service, Bill returned to his work at Weatherhead where he remained until 1978.


While working at Weatherhead, Bill enjoyed golfing on the company team. He also met the young woman who forever changed his heart. Quite taken with Rosemary Palmer, the two were nearly inseparable after they began dating. Although they never met previously, as fate would have it, Bill, and Rosemarys brother, Karl had served together during the war. They rode to and from boot camp at Ft. Knox together and also served together in Germany, never realizing that one day they would become brothers-in-law. Deeply in love, Bill and Rosemary were happily married on October 18, 1969 by the Rev. Graham L. Kleespie.


After Bill left Weatherhead in 1978 he went on to work for JB Tool in Ft. Wayne as a lathe operator. Bill was a man of integrity and he knew well the value of hard work. He made a good life for himself and Rosemary, and they enjoyed fulfilling many of their shared passions. Fishing was one of their favorite things to do along with camping and traveling around the country on their motorcycles.


Bill absolutely loved riding. He and Rosemary each had their own bikes and they loved nothing more than packing their saddlebags for random trips on the open road. They liked visiting various places throughout the country, and although they never had a specific destination, they together just loved the road before them and the shared adventure. Bill usually let Rosemary lead, but he never hesitated to suggest other roads to take! Over the years they attended many Wing Ding events, and camping with the Goldwing Club always proved to be a great time. Bill especially loved the fact that he could take his brother-in-law, Ralph on a memorable ride before Ralph sadly passed away. In later years, Bill and Rosemary switched from Honda Goldwings to Harley Davidsons which they thoroughly enjoyed until two years ago when they had to make the difficult decision to sell them.


Always helpful and generous with his time, he even had a dump truck to haul loads for people and Rosemary even drove for him a time or two. Even after Bill retired in 2010, he found plenty to keep busy. Bill was multi-talented in many respects. He was very handy and built quality fishing poles he often gave as gifts to family and friends. He also used his talents building beautiful, well-made fiddles and guitars he also gave as gifts, and the best model airplanes made to fly. He especially treasured and enjoyed the experience of flying with a friend of his while taking great photographs from the sky.


Along with his varied interests, Bill enjoyed collecting John Deere die cast tractors. When it came to cooking, he made delicious specialties and was great at barbequing. He was very handy in other areas, too. Bill could build computers from individual parts and even serviced his own motorcycles. As their bikes got larger, he encountered a hard time getting underneath them to change the oil, so he convinced Rosemary to use their John Deere tractor to lift the bikes for him when he needed access to the undersides!


In all ways, Bill Kincaid was a joy to know and love. He was always willing to lend a helping hand, and his fun-loving spirit was a welcome addition wherever he went. Along with his hard work ethic, Bill was a practical joker and loved bringing smiles to those around him. Deeply missed, Bill will be fondly remembered by those who knew him best.


Billy G. Kincaid, 70, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away Tuesday evening, January 5, 2016 at his home. Survivors include his loving wife of 46 years, Rosemary Kincaid; father, Billy (Shannon ) Kincaid of Beattyville, Kentucky; sisters, Edwina Mosher and Evelyn (Don) Riley, both of Columbia City; brothers, David Lorn (Linda) Kincaid and Doyle (Kris) Kincaid, both of Columbia City; sisters-in-law, Sharon (George Jr.) Waltenburg of Richmond, Ruth (Kenneth) Hoffman and Jane (Jack) Craig, both of Columbia City; brothers-in-law, Karl (Brenda) Palmer and Jim (Darlene) Palmer, both of Columbia City; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1995, Geneva Kincaid; brothers-in-law, Bob Mosher, Fred Bill Palmer and Ralph Palmer.


Visitation will be held on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the funeral home with Pastor Lannie Maloney officiating. Burial will follow at South Park (Annex) Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Bills honor to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana or Shriners Hospital for Children. To share a favorite memory or photo of Bill and to send online condolences, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com .