We are honored to present the lifetime collection of William “Bill” Kinder and Jo Williams Kinder, longtime residents of Rural Retreat, Virginia. This special auction offers a glimpse into a lifetime of hard work, craftsmanship, and community involvement.
Bill Kinder was a lifelong resident of Rural Retreat, leaving home only briefly to proudly serve his country as a member of the United States Air Force. After returning from service, he met Jo Williams, who had moved to Rural Retreat from Comers Rock in Grayson County to pursue her career as a teacher. Together they built their family home in 1957, where they remained for the rest of their lives.
Known affectionately throughout the community as “Mr. Hardware,” Bill spent his career working in the hardware business, first at The Rural Retreat Vance Company, then AGCO Structures Hardware, and finally at Harpo's Hardware—where he eventually retired.
Outside of work, he was a One-time Minor League Baseball Player, Rural Retreat Volunteer Firefighter as well as an avid hunter, fisherman, and skilled carpenter who enjoyed creating pieces by hand in his spare time. Jo Kinder also built a respected career in the community, working for many years teaching at Rural Retreat High School, then as a bookkeeper for Gammon's Department Store before later retiring as a bank teller.
Various items come from the collections of Jo's parents' country store, the Comers Rock General Store, as well as the Rural Retreat Vance Company Hardware Store.
This auction celebrates the life and interests of Bill and Jo Kinder and features a diverse collection of items reflecting their passions and professions.
Highlights from the collection include:
• Archery equipment, including bows and arrows from Bill’s years enjoying the outdoors.
• An impressive assortment of vintage advertising signs and store displays from Harpo’s Hardware and related brands, including a Snow Goose Flour advertising thermometer, Pepsi bottle-cap sign, John Deere sign, and numerous Winchester advertisements and posters.
• Handcrafted wood art created by Bill Kinder, including hand-carved animal wall hangings, wood-burned artwork, picture frames, and handcrafted walking sticks and canes made from yew and lilac harvested on the property. Bill also built the picnic table included in this sale.
• A fascinating collection of local ephemera and hardware store memorabilia, reflecting Bill’s lifelong interest in preserving pieces of local commercial history.
• A large assortment of vintage toys and games, including Tonka toys, a Marx Magic Shot Shooting Gallery, Lincoln Logs, Lite-Brite, vintage board games, Hot Wheels, model airplanes, and even a handcrafted barn built by Bill himself.
• Additional notable items include handmade stools crafted by Rural Retreta Lutheran Parish Pastor Albert Shumate who married Jo and Bill over 70 years ago, a Stanley King Land Auction Co. promotional poster, vintage Coleman camping gear, a Remington ammunition display case, a vintage Dexter wringer washer, mid-century modern Virden light fixtures, and quality Vaughan bedroom furniture.
This collection offers something for everyone—from collectors of vintage advertising and sporting memorabilia to enthusiasts of handcrafted folk art, antique toys, and mid-century home furnishings.
We invite you to explore this remarkable collection and celebrate the life and legacy of Bill and Jo Kinder.
