Person:William Kimble (4)

Bill was born in Cuyahogo Falls, Ohio, during the depression years. His family was forced to move back to Calhoun County, WV, where he lived until 1941. The family then moved to Parkersburg as there was work in the factories there. He met his wife and married there, but soon moved to Ohio where three of his children were born.

Bill moved his family to Florida in 1957 and lived there until illness forced his move to Thomasville, GA, in 1995. Upon moving to Florida, he worked for various contractors at Cape Canaveral (Kennedy) Space Station; the last five years there he was a technician for the space capsule simulator.

Changing careers in 1971, he began teaching welding at a vocational school in Perry, Florida. Eleven years later, he moved to Orlando to take a teaching job at Mid-Florida Tech teaching welding for a while, then working within the school system, he administered the welding exams for Martin Marietta (Orlando) employees. At night he taught blueprint reading to Disney employees in Orlando, FL. He retired after 20.5 years of teaching in 1992.

Bill was ill from 1992 until 1998 when he died from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, considered rare.

Parkersburg News June 21, 1998 KIMBLE, William F. 68, of Tallahassee, FL, died 6/19/98 at Westminister Oaks, Tallahassee. He was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He grew up in West Virginia. In 1950 he married Jane Alice Jackson of Parkersburg. He supported his family as a welder, eventually moving to Florida, working at the Kennedy Space Center. While his family was young, he was active in the Boy Scouts, was a volunteer fireman, square danced and enjoyed producing amateur artwork. When the Space Center began making employee cutbacks, he was offered a position of welding instructor in Perry, Florida. There he established the welding program for the vocational school, concurrently earning his masters degree from Florida State University. During his Perry years, he influenced many lives for Christ. He and his wife hosted home Bible studies that attracted many young people. He was also active in the lives of his fellow church members. In 1982, he moved to Orlando to continue his teaching career at the Mid-FLorida Technical Vocational School. For several years he was in charge of Martin-Marietta's welding certification program. He also served as a consultant for Disney World. He retired in 1993. Failing health necessitated a move to Mulberry Place, an assisted living facility in Thomasville, Georgia and eventually to Westminister Oaks in Tallahassee. Survivors include his wife, Jane Alice Jackson Kimble; one son, Dan Kimble of Tallahassee; two daughters, Karen Horne of Tallahassee and Mary Farmer of Thomasville; one sister, Rose Moore of Mason, Ohio; and 6 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, William O. and Hettie Kimble; and one son, William Allan Kimble. Burial in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Thomasville, Georgia.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Personal Knowledge.
2.   Birth Certificate.