Larry Wayne Kincaid

He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, on Sept. 16, 1946, to the late Opal Maxine Buckner Kincaid Tumolo Meyers and Cleon “Tom” Kincaid. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents who raised him, Goldie Mae (Balser) and Charles Alexander Buckner; his brothers, Robert Eugene Kincaid, Carl Ray Kincaid, and Albert Kincaid; sister, Doris Mae Kincaid; grandson, Andrew Wayne Corbin Bohon; dear family friend, Brenda Jones; an adored foster son; and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins. He was also preceded in death by his stepfather, Joseph Meyers, and stepmother, Shirley Kincaid.

Larry is survived by the love of his life, wife, Peggy, to whom he was married nearly 57 years; daughter, Ariana Kincaid and husband, Pete Kosky, of Charleston, West Virginia; son, Kerry Kincaid and wife, Kate, of Princeton, Texas; Rebecca Bohon and partner, Jason Hudson, of North Augusta, South Carolina; grandchildren, Christian Gorrell and wife, Alyssa, of Texas; Alexis Kincaid and fiance, Hunter DuBroc, of Texas; Darby Findley and husband, Nathan, of Belington; Allison Bohon and partner, Isaac Knotts, of Belington; Claire Kosky of Charleston, and Montana Grogg of Weston, West Virginia; and great-grandchildren, Adakin Logan, Kamdyn Logan, Evelyne Logan-Gorrell and Violet Knotts. He is also survived by sister, Michelle Harmon, and by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

He will be terribly missed by his canine pals, Charlie and Monkey. Betta Bertha hasn’t made up their mind yet, as they just met.

When Larry was a boy, he wanted to be a soldier, and he joined the Army as soon as he could. He served with the First Cavalry in Korea, where he gained an appreciation for kimchi, bulgogi and makguli. He then served in Vietnam, where he gained an appreciation for going home. The Army said they needed him back in Vietnam for a second tour, so when the Navy promised him he wouldn’t have to go back if he became a SeaBee, he joined right up–and then was promptly sent to serve a second tour in Vietnam with the Navy. He later served as a recruiter in the Indiana National Guard (though he never met Dan Quayle).

During his military service, he received numerous medals and commendations, including: Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars (signifying service in 3 campaigns during the Vietnam War), Air Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Navy Unit Commendation and Purple Heart.

Perhaps the medal that meant the most to Larry, though, was his Navy & Marine Corps Medal, which is awarded for acts of heroism, not involving conflict with an armed enemy. It’s considered the senior non-combat award for heroism within the Navy and Marine Corps. The medal is specifically for acts of valor where the individual voluntarily risked their life. Larry received this award for rescuing two young teenage boys from a forest fire, himself suffering second- and third-degree burns and smoke inhalation during the rescue.

Upon his discharge from the Navy, he became an electrician in the coal mines, and later owned several successful construction-trade businesses, a gas station, a pizza restaurant and a small grocery store. He went to college in his 40s, graduating summa cum laude from Alderson Broaddus College in 1991. He worked for the WVDHHR, first as a social worker and then supervisor in both Child and Adult Protective Services, then worked for MountainHeart Community Services, retiring in 2008.

As a result of his raising, and seeing a need through his career, Larry and his wife became foster parents to numerous children from all over West Virginia after Ariana and Kerry left home. He and Peggy offered respite to foster parents and foster care to children who needed their love and guidance. This completed a circle for Larry, who had himself been a foster child before being taken in and raised by his grandparents.

Larry enjoyed camping, marksmanship, fishing, travel and playing music for and with his family. He could play guitar and had a beautiful singing voice, favoring classic country music and the hymns of his youth (when he wasn’t too self-conscious to enjoy singing, often when he was remodeling a home or repairing something or other). He also had a wicked sense of humor, and his laugh was contagious.

Larry’s skills in construction led him to remodel nearly every home his family ever lived in, building at least three homes the family lived in from the foundation up. His children fondly remember the smell of sawdust and drywall mud, the sound of hammers, sawing, singing and swearing, and the awe of seeing his creations take shape from where there was once nothing.

Friends will be received at the Talbott Funeral Home, 56 N. Brandenburg St. in Belington, WV on Tuesday, July 22, 2025m from 5-8 p.m. and again on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. the funeral hour when final rites will be conducted from the funeral home chapel with his daughter and son brining the eulogy and selected scriptures. Pastor Kevin Gainer will also participate. Full military rites will be accorded, and Mr. Kincaid will be laid to rest in the Kincaid Family Cemetery near his home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306.

Condolences can be made to the family at www.talbottfuneralhome.com.

The Talbott Funeral Home in Belington, WV, is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Larry Wayne Kincaid.