With nearly 55 years of professional experience, Virginia L. Kinney excelled as a librarian with the Miami County Public Library from 1978 to 2011 and the Newton Local School from 1984 to 2002. In addition to her primary roles, she worked as an instructor of GED preparation for Troy Continuing Education from 1988 to 2009, an instructor of English as a Second Language from 2004 to 2009 and an instructor in the Newton Local School Chapter 1 program from 1978 to 1988. She previously served as a teacher with Barnesville Elementary School from 1961 to 1962 and with Union Local Head Start in 1965. Ms. Kinney began her career as an instructor with the Ohio State University County Extension agent from 1959 to 1960 and a teacher with the Lamar Elementary School from 1957 to 1958.
Ms. Kinney initially pursued an education at the Ohio State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in home economics in 1956. She has also completed coursework with Ohio Wesleyan University, Muskingum College, Urbana University and the University of Dayton. Following these accomplishments, Ms. Kinney found success with her written works, authoring such publications as “The Life and Times of Johnny Appleseed from A to Z” in 2008 and “The Commemorative History Book of Newton Township” in 2003,” among several others.
A respected voice in her areas of interest, Ms. Kinney has been affiliated with a number of professional organizations. She is a member of the American Hereford Women, the Miami County Association of Family and Consumer Science. She was associated as a former trustee and current vice president of the Bradford Railroad Museum, the Miami County Republican Women, the Johnny Appleseed Society, the Human Ecology Alumni Society and as local secretary of the Astrobuds Garden Club for 10 years. Ms. Kinney has also been active with the Ohio State University Alumni Association, the Ohio CowBelles, as local president of the Red Hat Society for four years, the Epworth Park Cottage Owners, the Antique Automobile Club of America and the Plymouth Owners Club.
Throughout her career, Ms. Kinney has been celebrated for her myriad contributions to the field. She has served such renowned honor societies as Alpha Delta Pi as state alumni president from 1992 to 1994 and Phi Upsilon Omicron. She was also the state president of the Cow Belles Club in 1985 and local leader of 4-H for five years, and is currently waiting for the Senate to approve the Ohio Sugar Cookies, which was approved by the State of Ohio representative in Columbus in June 2019. Likewise, Ms. Kinney has been celebrated in numerous publications, including Who’s Who in Finance and Business, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Education.
