Living on Colewood Road in the heart of Barboursville, the Kinker family—Nathan, Ashley, Ella Kate, and Luke—embody a love for their community and the close-knit spirit of their neighborhood. Ashley is a second-grade teacher at Village of Barboursville Elementary, where Luke, 9, is a third grader. Ella Kate, 11, attends Barboursville Middle School as a sixth grader. With their toy Goldendoodle, Gracie, adding an extra layer of joy to their home, the Kinkers find themselves immersed in the vibrancy of family life, education, and community.

Ashley shared with Stroll Barboursville, “It’s so rewarding to teach in the same community where my children go to school. Second grade is such a magical age—full of excitement and curiosity—and I love being a part of shaping their love for learning.” Nathan, a Regional Sales Manager for Vertex, also finds purpose in his work, helping physicians and patients in orthopedics and pain medicine. “I enjoy mentoring my team and hearing the success stories that come from the care we help provide,” he says.

The family has lived in their home for nearly 4 years, before which they resided In Meadow Creek for 6 years. Both Ashley and Nate attended Cabell Midland High School and Marshall University. Even though Ashley lived in Kentucky for several years as a young child, she still considers herself from Barboursville.

Ashley and Nathan's story began at Cabell Midland High School, where they met as teenagers and quickly became high school sweethearts. After marrying in 2010 at Steele Memorial United Methodist Church, the couple spent a few years in Lexington, Kentucky, before returning home to Barboursville in 2014. "We always knew we wanted to raise our family here," Ashley says. "There’s something special about being part of the community where we grew up."

The Kinkers are always on the move, whether traveling to explore a new major league baseball stadium, attending a University of Kentucky football or basketball game, or cheering on the Yankees. Closer to home, Ella shines as a cheerleader and tumbling enthusiast, while Luke stays busy with football, basketball, and baseball through Barboursville’s youth leagues.

For Ashley, relaxation often means diving into a good book or going for a walk outdoors, while Nate enjoys hitting the golf course. As a family, their favorite way to unwind is a Friday night "family date," a cherished tradition of togetherness. “It’s something we’ve done for years, and it’s a great way to reconnect after a busy week,” Ashley shares.

Nate dedicates his time to coaching Barboursville youth sports, while Ashley enjoys mentoring resident student teachers from Marshall University in her classroom. “It’s important to us to give back to the community that’s given us so much,” Ashley says.

According to Ashley, the family's favorite dinner is, “anything we make at home.” As far as favorite sports teams, “We love supporting our alma mater- Marshall University, but we also bleed blue and love the University of Kentucky and try to attend a couple of football and basketball games each year. We also love the NY Yankees!” In fact, as part of their favorite vacation destinations, Ashley stated, “We  have a hobby of trying to visit a new major league baseball stadium each year and exploring new cities.” The Kinkers also enjoy visiting the Gulf Coast of Florida.

The Kinkers cherish their small-town roots, family traditions like baking a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas, and the joy of raising their children in a supportive, close-knit environment. "We love the small-town feel of Barboursville, but also the fact that everything is within close proximity.”

We are blessed to have this wonderful family as part of our community.