Wayne Kinzie

Wayne E. Kinzie May 28, 1933 – Dec. 6, 2020 Wayne E. Kinzie passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at the age of 87 having lived a full and complete life. A private family graveside service will be under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home at the Alva Municipal Cemetery, Rev. Katie Hill, First United Methodist Church officiating. A celebration of Wayne’s life for extended family, friends, and associates will be held on July 31, 2021. Wayne was born at home (310 Flynn) on Sunday, May 28, 1933 to Guy and Audrey Kinzie. Wayne’s mother said he kept her and the doctor from going to church that Sunday. He was baptized 2 weeks later in the Methodist Church he attended until his passing. Wayne grew up living next to his father’s business. He was always tinkering around the shop where he developed his mechanical skills early in life. It was also here where his endless ingenuity and resourcefulness led him to create and build a variety of projects including unicycles. His most unusual unicycle being seven feet tall which he would later ride in the college marching band. During high school Wayne worked at the Alva Airport after school for Kenneth Crisp, often in exchange for flying time and lessons. In the summertime he would work for Earl Hellman and Autmer Gallon on their farms. Wayne was appreciative that Mr. Hellman and Mr. Gallon would let him work all the hours he wanted, especially at night during plow season. Wayne conditioned himself to be able to work long hours for $1.00 per hour. While employed by Mr. Gallon, Wayne figured out how to plow with 2 tractors simultaneously. He would get the first tractor heading straight following the furrow and then run across the field and get the second tractor going. He then would continue to run across the field all night to catch each tractor on the corners to turn them till the field was finished. Gallon couldn’t figure out how Wayne was getting so much work done each night. When Gallon discovered what was happening, he let Wayne continue plowing at night, but made him promise to only run one tractor at a time. During Wayne’s senior year in college at Northwestern his father died. Needing to support his mother and sister, he started working 12 hour night shifts on the construction of a local grain elevator. This took its toll on his college classes and Wayne never had the opportunity to graduate. Wayne served in the National Guard Headquarters battery, 189th field artillery battalion and the U.S. Army reserve. Wayne had the chance to purchase two damaged Ercoupe airplanes out of Wichita, KS. One had been flipped over in a windstorm and the other had its gear collapse. Wayne and his brother, Lynn, made one flyable plane out of the two. They sold the plane for enough money to make a down payment on a bicycle, lawnmower and Cushman motor scooter shop. While managing this business, Wayne designed, built, and sold custom unicycles and tractor radios. Wayne continued to farm for Hellman but still had an interest in aviation. Wayne kept thinking in his mind about the opportunity to start a company for rebuilding damaged aircraft. One day at the dinner table Hellman said, "Wayne, why don't you quit talking about rebuilding airplanes and do something about it?" So he did and sold the bicycle and scooter business. Earl Hellman offered Wayne space in one of his barns to start rebuilding airplanes until a hangar could be built at the Alva Airport. The Alva Industrial Foundation was formed to finance and build that hangar. This was the 3rd structure on the airport and the beginning of Kinzie Industries (FAA approved Repair Station). Wayne’s first employees were his college classmates. From this point on college students were an integral part of Kinzie Industries. Approximately 450 college students were employed in the business over the next 50 years. Wayne said he figured he was operating a four year training school. Kids got a formal education in college and a practical education working for him. When questioned by local merchants on employing college kids, Wayne would reply, “I would rather have young and eager than old and pooped out”! Throughout the 1950’s and 60’s Kinzie Industries specialized in single engine all metal airplanes mainly Cessna and Beech consisting of major rebuilds, overhauls, repairs, and maintenance. The planes that went out the door were better than new and Wayne earned a reputation nationally for it. Wayne developed equipment and techniques for retrieving downed aircraft in remote areas. Insurance companies, corporations, Cessna and Beech all hired him to bring in downed aircraft. Wayne’s interests and hobbies encompassed traveling, aircraft, antique trucks / cars, blacksmithing, trains, waterworks, unicycles, and anything mechanical. Most prominent among Wayne’s interests were trains. This hobby involved Lionel electric trains, 1 ½ inch scale live steam trains, ore / mining cars, and narrow gauge railroad cars from the D&RGW. Nothing gave Wayne joy like giving his grandkids and the neighborhood kids rides on his little steam train around his house and yard. Several college kids got their only life experience of loading and hauling railroad cars out of Colorado while working for Wayne. Later, Wayne had the opportunity to acquire the Capron Santa Fe depot. He restored it to operational condition with living quarters. Wayne and Beverly would spend time there often with grandkids to escape the daily grind. During 1960 Wayne met the love of his life and in 1961 he married Beverly Sue Galloway and to this union four children were born, Paul, Mark, Tim, and Teresa. Beverly would not only be his life partner but also become an integral part of the business Wayne had started. In 1962 Wayne acquired his first damaged Hughes helicopter. From 1963-68 Wayne and his company continued rebuilding and repairing airplanes while expanding dramatically into helicopters. In 1968 he decided to specialize in Hughes Helicopters full time. The business grew successfully with Wayne managing the shop and Beverly supervising the office. All four children at some point were involved in the business. The company did major repairs and rebuilds, overhauls, and maintenance. Kinzie Industries was now being noticed internationally for its impeccable workmanship. As the marketplace dictated, the business grew to include new manufactured replacement helicopter parts, agriculture aerial spraying, and gift and apparel products. Additionally, Kinzie designed and manufactured unique helicopter accessories. Many of Wayne’s aviation business philosophies, techniques, resourceful ideas and methods were revolutionary in the industry and influenced generations. By the time Wayne sold the helicopter business in the early 2000’s, he had regular customers in all 50 states and 23 foreign countries. His FAA approved repair station had returned over 300 airplanes and 350 helicopters back to active flying status. In 50 years, no aircraft part failed or an aircraft go down due to workmanship or quality from Wayne and Kinzie Industries. In the early 1970’s as the helicopter business grew, more traveling was required to retrieve wrecked helicopters, bring back stockpiles of parts, and customer work as well as deliver parts and repaired helicopters. Wayne had been eyeing the new GMC motorhome and felt it fit the need he had for the expanding business. He purchased two and in addition to using them for the business, he started Kinzie Rentals which rented the motorhomes when they were not needed for business travel. Additionally, he acquired two travel trailers and two tent trailers to cover the spectrum of recreational needs for customers. Days producing helicopters and parts and nights cleaning and performing maintenance on recreational rentals kept Wayne, his family and employees very busy. Wayne was an avid supporter of the community, airport, Alva, NWOSU, and Northwest Oklahoma. He never missed an opportunity to promote any aspect of this through his business or travels. He served on the Alva Airport Commission, Alva City Council, Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, Northwestern Homecoming committee, and in various capacities at the First United Methodist Church. Wayne and Beverly were founding members of the Alva Mural Society. Wayne constantly was learning and thinking. He never passed an opportunity to read or see how something was developed, constructed, or used and bringing that knowledge to Alva for projects and events. Wayne spent his entire life taking care of his family and friends. He put others first and was a source of strength, calmness, and dependability. Until his last breath his thoughts were about taking care of others. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Lynn and a sister Wanda. He is survived by his wife Beverly and four children; Paul Kinzie and his wife Elizabeth and son Spencer, Mark Kinzie and his husband Jim Crumbacher and son Duncan, Tim Kinzie and his wife Diane and daughters Zoe, Riley, and sons Nick and Victor, daughter Teresa Malzahn and her husband Kyle and daughter Hannah, and son Dane. Also grieving his loss are his sister Elva Lu Hasty and her husband Glenn, nieces Lynn Louise Kinzie and Judy Porter, nephew Rob Kightlinger and their families and a number of great nieces and nephews and a host of friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, the Alva Mural Society, or the Alva Goldbug Education Foundation (checks for the Goldbug Foundation must be made payable to CFO).

Wayne Kinzie

May 28, 1933 - December 6, 2020