Joseph Aldine Kitchens, Jr

Joseph Aldine Kitchens, Jr, 87, of Marietta, Georgia passed away peacefully on 10/9/2023. Joe was born in Mansfield, Georgia, the beloved son of Joseph Aldine and Jewell Freeman Kitchens. After graduating from Newton County High School, Joe attended the University of Georgia where he majored in business and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. After graduating from UGA, Joe joined the Marine Corps as a commissioned officer and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California. It was during his time there that he met and married Frances Weidner in 1961. After taking a cross country sightseeing honeymoon, the couple settled in Marietta, Georgia where Joe began his lifelong career at Lockheed Martin as a purchasing agent. While raising their 3 children, Joe enjoyed playing golf, cheering for UGA football, playing bridge and poker and attending Atlanta Falcons games as a season ticket holder for many years. After losing Fran to cancer in 1993, Joe later met and married Gail Johnson Gentry in 1997. Later that year he retired from his position as Director of Procurement at Lockheed Martin after 36 years of dedicated service. After his retirement, Joe enjoyed traveling with Gail, playing golf and spending time with their grandkids and beloved dogs. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife of 32 years, Fran; brothers in law Ralph Clark, Clark Johnson and Michael Johnson; and nephew Stephen Weidner. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gail of Marietta, Georgia; son Mike Kitchens (Dorothy) of Sandy Springs, Georgia, daughter Lori Houston (Joe) of Marietta, Georgia and daughter Joan Koolidge (Mike) of Rochelle, Illinois; stepdaughters Stephanie Tinley (Buddy) of Atlanta, Georgia and Heather Simon (Christopher) of Marietta, Georgia; grandchildren Joey Houston, Mary Frances Kitchens, Sarah Kate Houston, Sophie Tinley, Catherine Kitchens, Ellie Tinley and Harper Simon; brothers in law Art Weidner (Karen) and Charlie Johnson (Joan); sisters in law Beverly Clark, Linda Johnson and Sally Johnson; and nieces Julie Weidner Carter (Joel) and Greta Weidner (Patrick Hayden). A service for Joe will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 11 am at Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, Georgia. A visitation with the family will begin at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Marine Toys for Tots or Wellstar Community Hospice at Kennesaw Mountain.

Joseph Aldine Kitchens, Jr

December 24, 1935 - October 9, 2023