John Benjamin Kincaid passed away peacefully at home on October 25, 2023, in Mountain View, Missouri. Born November 5, 1933, in Loma Linda, California, to Roland Isaac and Addy Bernice (Walden) Kincaid, John lived a life full of adventure, learning, loving, service, and devotion.
Following his military career, he earned a master’s in Sanitary Engineering and worked as the Director of Wastewater Control for the City of Knoxville, Tennessee, until 1981, when he moved his family to Mountain View, Missouri. There he served as project engineer for the city’s wastewater treatment plant redesign. In 1982, John took a faculty position with University of Missouri-Rolla Civil Engineering Department where his love of learning and teaching fully blossomed. His creative approach delighted students and fascinated faculty. He was awarded Teacher of the Year by the students and faculty for seven consecutive years from 1982-1989.
John took his zeal for learning and teaching far and wide exploring diverse interests and aptitudes. He was an avid bird watcher, crafter, carpenter, builder, inventor, gardener, beekeeper, and wood turner. John and his wife Ann have been dedicated to taking care of their pets, as well as the gentle creatures of nature that wandered onto their place, providing shelter, water, and winter food for these visitors. John also volunteered for the community, serving as a tax preparer for the elderly, and was a member of the City of Mountain View Zoning Board.
John received numerous awards and accolades recognizing his contributions over the years. He and Ann won the local garden club Yard of the Year award for several years. He belonged to the Ozark Wood Turner’s Association in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and was instrumental in beginning an annual event featuring a professional woodturner who provided lectures, instruction, and demonstrations of technique for the club.
He is survived by his wife, Antoinette Thompson; his daughters, Robin Linkhart (spouse Kevin) of Longmont, CO, Margaret Jordan (spouse Earl) of Marble, NC, Michele Foster (spouse Kevin) of Mountain View, MO, and Stephanie Cortese (spouse Dave) of Kent, WA; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; and along with three brothers, David, Norman, and Roger. He is predeceased by his sister, Kay Elizabeth (Kincaid) Hartzler.
May memories of John Benjamin Kincaid live for generations to come through the stories he lived and shared with those he loved so well.
Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on November 4, 2023, at Veterans Cemetery located at East Street in Mountain View, Missouri, under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View. For memorial donations, consider donating to the Student Contractor Association, Department of Civil Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
