James Floyd Kindred, 86 of Jasper, Tennessee. was a loving husband and father who left this world on September 16, 2021, from complications following a traumatic brain injury that resulted from a fall. The Erlanger Trauma ICU worked steadfastly and did not give up on giving Mr. Kindred a fighting chance for survival, for which the family is extremely grateful. Mr. Kindred is preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Annie Humphry Kindred of Rocky Springs, AL; two brothers, Clyde Kindred and Edward Kindred; four sisters, Ruby Ward, Mae Middleton, Kathaleen Bates, and Gladis Kindred.

The following family members will cherish his memory; including, his loving and devoted wife, Bettie Witt Kindred; children Gerry (Janice) of Jasper, TN, Sandra (Perry) Jeffers of Priceville, AL, and Gregory Kindred of Soddy-Daisy, TN; brother Cecil (Linda) Kindred of North Las Vegas, NV; eight grandchildren, 14 great grand-children, and one great-great grandchild.

Floyd was born on November 10, 1934, in his parent's home, one of eight children. Like many homes in NE Alabama, it was simple, having no running water and no electricity. Most of their food was from what they grew and from animals they tended or hunted. It was not an easy life, but they prevailed.

Floyd was a hard worker and strict with his money, which allowed him to buy a car immediately after graduation from Bridgeport High School in 1953. He worked at Jacob's Foundry, a job he did not enjoy but was grateful for employment. Many effects of the great depression were still being felt in NE Alabama and being one of the lucky ones to have an automobile, he was often called upon by friends to transport family members to the doctor and other errands, which he did selflessly.

When Jacob's employees went on strike, Floyd decided he needed to find other work, so he and two buddies drove to Scottsboro and enlisted in the Air Force. Floyd had asked his sister Mae Middleton to give his address to girls to establish pen pals. Bettie Witt attended Hope Well Baptist Church in Rocky Springs with Mae who suggested she write to Floyd. At that time Floyd was stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi. Miss Bettie said she would write only if he wrote first. When Floyd was home on leave, Mae introduced Bettie to him and they were instantly drawn to each other, ultimately marrying in 1955. A marriage that lasted more than 66 years.

Floyd showed a strong aptitude in mathematics and trained in the field of electronics and became an expert in radar systems. His USAF career landed him places around the United States, northern Canada, Germany, and Thailand. While in Thailand, he luckily cheated death by a last-minute change that removed him from a team that was traveling into Laos on a secret mission to repair a radar at an outpost. The Viet Cong attacked the team and there were no survivors.

A funny story told by Floyd was a time when he and a team of three others were returning from a mission at a radar outpost. They were running up against the clock as the road was very dangerous to be on after dark. They heard gunfire and slammed on the brakes. Floyd and his team dove into a muddy ditch. As they belly crawled over a small hill with their M-16s and sidearms, they were amused at seeing children placing bamboo into a bonfire. The bamboo chambers would explode when heated, sounding like gunfire.

Senior Master Sergeant Kindred served his country with distinction and honors. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign medal.

Upon retiring from the USAF in 1974, Floyd worked for about two years at Litton Calculator Company in Chattanooga, as well as side work at Simpson's Store in Jasper repairing TVs. Following Litton, Floyd attended Chattanooga State and obtained an A.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology in 1978. That made him the only member of his family to earn a college degree. From there Floyd joined TVA in the Division of Nuclear Construction at the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant as an electrical quality control

(QC) technician, where he remained until retiring in 1988 when they shuttered the plant. Floyd spent the next two years working as a contracted QC Technician at Sequoyah and Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plants. The long commute from Jasper to those locations began to wear on Floyd so he decided to completely retire and focusing on yardwork and gardening at the age of 55, along with repairing TVs for Simpson's another 15 years or so.

Floyd, a former member of the Future Farmers of America from HS days, always had a passion for growing flowers, plants and vegetables. He loved to show off his flowers. As a young boy of about seven years old, his father caught him digging in the yard one February morning. He asked, "What are you doing son?", Floyd replied, "I'm going to plant a garden." He gardened naturally and did not believe in using pesticides as in effect that was akin to putting poison on your food. Floyd set a table out in his front yard with a scale and a chalkboard that gave the prices of vegetables he had available for sale. You would weigh your own vegetables, then place your money in a plastic cool whip container. It was an honor system that worked well. It did not generate much money, but he said it covered seed, fertilizer, and water. He was good with that.

Mr. Kindred instilled values, such as honesty and integrity in his children as well as lifelong advice such as working hard, the value of one's word, and treating others respectfully, regardless of your differences. All that have had the honor of knowing Floyd knew him to also embody those same values and he expected his children to live up to, as well. He led by example. He encouraged family get-togethers with both his and Bettie's families such as 4th of July cookouts, Memorial Day and Labor Day potlucks and the annual Christmas party hosted at their home. Floyd will be truly missed by all that loved and knew him.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 12:00 noon (CST) at Rogers Funeral Home of Jasper, TN with Pastor Greg Steele officiating.

Interment will follow at Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Military Honors.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (CST) and on Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CST) prior to the funeral service in the chapel of Rogers Funeral Home in Jasper.

Arrangements are by Rogers Funeral Home of Jasper Tennessee 21 East Fifth Street, Jasper, Tennessee 37343 (423) 942-2682 or (423) 837-7176.