Kermit Eldridge McGinnis
(March 1, 1924 - December 26, 2016)

KERMIT ELDRIDGE McGINNIS was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on December 26, 2016, at St. Marys Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. He was surrounded by his wife Dorothy, his children and grandchildren. Kermit was born on March 1, 1924, in Huntington and was the youngest child of B.C. and Gladys McGinnis. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Harold McGinnis, Maxine McGinnis Ramsey, Bernard McGinnis, Rupert McGinnis, and Karleen Warnock. On December 25, 2016, he celebrated the 66th wedding anniversary with the love of his life and best friend, Dorothy Hatfield McGinnis. He attended Virginia Tech and graduated from Marshall University upon his return from service in World War II. Kermit began his professional career with Huntington Federal Savings Bank in 1948. In 1952 at age 28, he became one of the nation’s youngest Presidents of a financial institution. In 2016, Kermit retired as CEO of Huntington Federal after a 67-year career. He was active with many organizations and huge fan of Marshall and the Thundering Herd. He loved Huntington and worked tirelessly to help support community projects. Having lived through the Great Depression, his work ethic was second to none and he believed that “giving back to the community” is not only the right thing to do for others, but also helps to provide a person with a full and complete life. Kermit’s accomplishments include: U.S. Army Staff Sargent, 99th Infantry Division Sharp Shooter, European Theatre Belgium and Germany 1943-1946 (Battle of the Bulge Veteran); Past President and Director of the West Virginia League of Savings; Past Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh; Past Director and Member of the Legislative Committee of the United States Savings and Loan League; Past Director of the Southeastern Group of the United States Saving and Loan League; Past Director of the Huntington Industrial Corporation; Past Director of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce; Member and Past Director of the Huntington Rotary Club; Past Director and Secretary of the Huntington Urban Renewal, serving 20 years; Past Director of The Foster Foundation and was actively involved in the planning and development of the Woodlands Retirement Community; Past Member and former Chairman of the West Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, serving 30 years; Past Member Huntington Clinical Foundation; Member Huntington Foundation Board of Directors; Past Board Member and Finance Committee of the YMCA; Past Member Marshall Foundation Board of Directors for 20 years, serving as president in 1982 - 1983, and was elected into the University’s Circle of Gold in 1998; Director of Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business Advisory Board; Inducted into Marshall University Elizabeth McDowell Lewis College of Business Hall of Fame in 2000; The Kermit E. McGinnis Distinguished Professorship in the Elizabeth McDowell Lewis College of Business was established in 2000; Charter Member of the John Marshall Society; Recipient of The Herald-Dispatch Citizens Award for Community Achievement in 2006; Lifelong Member of Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church and served as its treasurer for 33 years; Obtained funds in 1990 through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburg for Cabell-Huntington Coalition for the Homeless to establish Vanity Fair, a residential program for the homeless; Past Board Member and Finance Chairman for the Girl Scouts of America, Past Member of the Commercial Division of the United Fund Campaign; Marshall University Foundation honors Kermit E. McGinnis and Huntington Federal for lifetime giving of $500,000 to the Kermit E. McGinnis Distinguished Professorship in the Elizabeth McDowell Lewis College of Business at Marshall University – 2015; Huntington Masonic Lodge #53; Member of the Huntington Valley Scottish Rite; Member of the Beni Kedem Shrine. Kermit’s love and legacy live on through his children and grandchildren, Kermit H. McGinnis of Bardstown, Ky., Suzanne McGinnis Oxley of Huntington (married to Leon K. Oxley), Charlotte E. McGinnis of Flat Rock, N.C. (partner Ellen Sherman), Mollie McGinnis Hinckley of Johns Creek, Ga. (married to Gerard J. Hinckley); in addition to six grandchildren, David McGinnis, Laura McGinnis Foor (married to Cole Foor), Sam Oxley, Grace, Hannah and Emily Hinckley and one great-granddaughter, Addie Foor, and many wonderful friends and relatives and his special caregivers Betty Evans, Lisa Estep and Barbara Harless. The visitation and funeral will be held at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church. Reverend Teresa Deane will be officiating. Visitation is on Wednesday December 28, 2016, from 4 to 7 p.m. and the funeral is on Thursday December 29, 2016, at 3 p.m. with visitation one hour before service. Private internment will be held at Ridgelawn Memorial Park.