Judge Marion Hardy “Son” Kinon, 84, of Dillon, died peacefully at his home surrounded by family on December 19, 2013, after a long illness.
Kinon was born in Dillon, South Carolina on March 6, 1929. He was the son of the late Samuel Coward Kinon and Marian Herring Kinon. He was predeceased by his brother Samuel Coward Kinon and Sara Herring Crowley.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Reba Anne Bryce Kinon; three children, Rebecca K. Ingram of Dillon, Marian K. (Rusty) Hanna of Irmo, and Samuel C (Lisa) Kinon of Conway; seven grandchildren, John W. (Leslie) Grubb, Suzanne I. (Brad) Snipes, Reba Ingram, Marian Bryce Hanna, King C. Hanna, Michael S. Kinon, Christopher C. Kinon; and three great-grandchildren, Shay Grubb, Johnson Grubb, and Braylin Carter; a sister, Miriam K. Lecholop Sanders, and two special nephews, Michael Lecholop and Stephen Lecholop.
Kinon began his military career while an undergraduate at the University of South Carolina when he joined the Air Force ROTC. He graduated in 1954 from the University of South Carolina Law School. He later joined the Army National Guard. He was the past President of the National Guard Association of South Carolina and Judge Advocate General. He was Battalion Commander of the 51st Military Police Battalion, State Aviation Officer, Deputy Adjutant General, and State Troop Commander. He was the first National Guard Aviator to receive the rank of Brigadier General.
He was a lawyer, a County Magistrate, Fourth Circuit Solicitor, and an at-large Circuit Court Judge.
Kinon was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives serving multiple terms. He was a member of the Dillon Advisory Board for First Citizens Bank and the Marlboro Electric Cooperative Advisory Board.
He received the Order of The Palmetto twice—once from Governor Campbell for military service and again from Governor Beasley for service to the state of South Carolina. The intersection of I-95 and S.C. Highway 38 was named in Kinon’s honor.
Kinon was actively involved in community service. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, a Mason, a Shriner, and a member of the American Legion.
He was a member of the Main Street United Methodist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher, Finance Committee Chairman, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Kinon’s dedication to church, family, military, civic, judicial and political arenas shows a legacy of giving time and self. Throughout all the years of service, one thing remained constant—his love of home and friends. He called Dillon County “God’s Country.”
The Kinon family sends deepest appreciation to the people who have cared for Judge Kinon over the years. They are the staffs of McLeod Medical Center of Dillon, McLeod Hospice, Dillon Internal Medicine, and the most wonderful caregivers who have meant so much to the family as well as Judge Kinon.
Memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 229, Dillon, South Carolina 29536 or McLeod Hospice, P.O. Box 100551, Florence, S.C. 29502.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, December 22, 2013, at Main Street United Methodist Church in Dillon, South Carolina.
The family received visitors at the church at 2:00 p.m. followed by the service at 3:00 p.m.. and interment at Greenlawn Cemetery in Dillon, South Carolina.
