Thomas Nixon Kinney

Thomas “Tom” Nixon Kinney, of Lake Wales, Florida, passed away on September 9, 2026, at the age of 74. He was born on March 4, 1952, in Andalusia, Alabama, to Walter and Virginia Kinney. After being raised in Greenville, Alabama, Tom and his wife, Sheila, moved to Lake Wales, Florida, in 1970.

He was a man of strong Christian faith and a member of the Lake Wales Church of Christ. His faith was an important part of who he was and the way he lived his life.

For 35-plus years, Tom worked in the citrus industry, holding many different titles. No matter the job title, hard work and integrity were important to Tom.

Tom was known for his heart of gold. He was the kind of person who was always welcoming, helping, giving, and encouraging. He believed in treating people with honesty and respect. Spending many years coaching Little League, he taught lessons about teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, and giving your best.

Tom was preceded in death by not only his parents, but also his siblings: Bruce Kinney, Arlene Watts, and Jerry Kinney.

Tom’s greatest pride and joy was his family. He was a loving husband to Sheila, his wife of 56 years, and together they built a life they loved. He was a devoted father to his two sons, Tommy (Tracy) Kinney and Walt (Tara) Kinney.

To his grandchildren, he was lovingly known as “Papa”; he cherished Tanner (Shanty) Kinney, Taylor (McCoy) Ward, Will Kinney, and Addi Kinney. His love continued to grow with his great-grandchildren, Hayden, Cannon, Elijah, Case, and Micah. He also held a special place in his heart for his many nieces and nephews.

Above all else, Tom loved his family. His greatest legacy will not be measured by the years he worked and his accomplishments but by the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the example he left for those who knew him.

He will be deeply missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, friends, and all those who were blessed to know him.

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” - Proverbs 20:7

A visitation will be held from 2:30 p.m. until the funeral service at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.