DOLAN & GERALDINE KINCHELOE

 

Across the Fence

 

By Arvord Abernethy

 

A few years, I need some steel rod panels for my stock pens and someone suggested that I see Dolan Kinchloe who lives on Farm Road 2414 in the West Point community. I drove over and met Dolan and his wife, Geraldine, and had a nice visit with them. I placed an order for some panels with him, and liked them so well, I had him to build a squeeze chute and head gate.

 

The thing that was different about this occasion was that Dolan was confined to a wheel chair by crippling arthritis. The disease struck him at the age of 27 and rapidly spread. He was almost bed-fast when he heard of a welding school to be sponsored by the Pottsville Agriculture Class. Hoping he could find something he could do, the family encouraged him to go; which he did and became real good at welding. The work not only gave him something to do, but seemed to help his mobility. He installed his shop right next to the house, and at times when he needed some help, Geraldine would come out and help.

 

On that first visit, I found Dolan a very jovial, talkative person, but never once did I hear, or have I heard, him complaining about his misfortunes. He wanted to show me some of the welding work he had done and installed on his pens, so he got on his little lawn tractor and scooted away. Everything around the lots, barns and house was neat and well cared for. I came away feeling that I had met a man with the patience of Job, and that I would never complain again of the little troubles I have.

 

Since that time, Dolan has had several operations to help his stiff joints. The first time the doctors at Scott and White Hospital ever replaced two joints at one time was when they replaced both of his knee joints. This helped a lot and he got where he could walk without a cane. Since then, he has had a hip and shoulder joint replaced, and a broken hip was set with steel pins. He would have a time going through one of those metal detection gates at an air terminal.

 

Wish I could report that all this surgery has Dolan back in good health, but such is not the case. His arthritis continues to affect more of his body. That same courage continues to dominate and he does all he can in taking care of the stock. Geraldine helps him some with the feeding each morning before she comes in and serves as book-keeper at Jordan’s Pharmacy.

 

The Kinchloes have a son, Faron, who won many prizes at the Hamilton County Youth Stock Show with his 4-H Club angora goats. The Farm Bureau chose him to go to the Citizenship Seminar one year at Baylor University. He worked one summer in Congressman Poage’s office in Washington. He is now married and working for Data Point computing firm in Waco.

 

The Kincheloes are regular attendants at the Park Heights Church of Christ.

 

Neighbors have expressed what an inspiration Dolan and Geraldine have been to them, as they have been to me, so I felt you would like to know them too.

 

 

 

Shared by Roy Ables