Engineer worked for city, Haughton
5/24/2009Terry A. Kinsey, an engineer who had long careers with the former Haughton Elevator Co. and the city of Toledo, died of cancer Friday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Toledo. He was 67.
An electrical and mechanical engineer by training, Mr. Kinsey retired from Toledo's department of public utilities in 2007 after 19 years of employment with the city, according to his wife, Joyce.
Before becoming a city employee, he worked for Haughton Elevator for 20 years, until its acquisition by the Swiss-based Schindler Group.
At Haughton, Mr. Kinsey was manager of application engineering, a position that involved much travel as he went from one project to another submitting bids and working up specifications, Mrs. Kinsey explained.
In his city employment, he initially worked in the division of facility and fleet operations, which maintains and manages Toledo's buildings and equipment.
In 2005, he transferred to the department of public utilities, where he was an engineering associate responsible for streetlighting, Mrs. Kinsey said.
He enjoyed the more informal atmosphere of his new workplace. "He didn't wear his suits and ties anymore," his wife said.
His job included investigating complaints about malfunctioning streetlights and contacting Toledo Edison, which is responsible for maintaining them.
"I can remember during the summer he'd get a complaint and say to me, 'Do you want to take a ride? I have to check out some streetlights.' He'd have to wait until dark," Mrs. Kinsey said.
Mr. Kinsey also spoke at neighborhood and Block Watch meetings about the importance of streetlights.
If residents wanted to add to or improve their streetlights, he explained the process.
Mr. Kinsey grew up in Monroe and graduated from Monroe High School. He earned his engineering degrees from the University of Toledo, often attending night classes because he worked during the day.
He and his wife were married for 46 years.
An avid golfer and bowler, and a diehard University of Michigan fan, Mr. Kinsey coached his sons' basketball and baseball teams when they were in elementary school.
He also enjoyed chess, cards, and board games.
Surviving are his wife, Joyce; daughter, Stephanie Gratcl; sons, Stephen and Randy; sisters, Karen Watrous and Candy Gray, and 10 grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 West Laskey Rd., where the body will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The family requests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.