Roger G. Kimble, 88, passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022 at the Ernestine Raclin Hospice House.
He was born on March 14, 1933, to George and Dorothy (Taber) Kimble. On June 12, 1954 he married his high school sweetheart, Wilma (Billie) Sriver at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Plymouth, IN.
Roger was a 1951 graduate of Plymouth High School. He attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC on a full ride football scholarship. After attending college and playing football in South Carolina for 1 year, Roger transferred to Ball State University to be with his best friend Jerry Greenlee. During college at BSU, Roger passed his ROTC requirements for Air Force pilot training and signed a 4-year obligation. Completing his USAF career as a Staff Sergeant in 1957.
Roger and Billie moved to Kalamazoo, MI in 1959 and he worked as the Engineer manager of the Customer Service department at Clark Equipment for over 29 years, providing service for over 110 Clark Dealerships in North America and Canada. When Roger retired in 1988, Roger and Billie moved back to Pretty Lake in Plymouth to live close to his mother, sister and mother-in-law.
Roger loved golfing, traveling, building and flying model airplanes, fixing things, remodeling the home on Pretty Lake and having conversations with his friends.
He is survived by his wonderful wife of 67 years, Billie; their children, Michael (Sherry) Kimble of Kalamazoo, MI; Steven (Wendy) Kimble of Kalamazoo, MI; Catherine (Mark) Thomason of Indialantic, FL; grandchildren: Kristina (Brent) Fredryk, Brett (Heidi) Kimble, Kirsten (Trevor) Tenney, Kyler (Alex) Kimble. Great-grandchildren: Paityn and Lillian Fredryk, Camden and Brody Kimble, Lola and Cooper Tenney and Parker Kimble.
Roger is preceded in death by his parents George and Dorothy Kimble, sister Barbara Kimble and his in-laws, Clifford and Lola Sriver.
Roger wanted to be remembered as a good husband to his wife Billie, a good father who wanted the best for his children, sometimes a meddling grandfather who wanted them to be the “best they can be” and a great-grandfather who sees nothing but success in their futures.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to his nurses Ann and Beth at Hospice and also a special thanks to all of the nurses, clergy, social workers at the Ernestine Raclin Hospice House. Amazing people that helped our family so much at a time that we needed them the most.
The family will be having a private service and celebrating Roger’s life this summer at the lake.
Memorial contributions can be made in Roger’s name to the Center for Hospice Care, Ernestine Raclin Hospice House, 501 Comfort Pl. Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Condolences may be sent to the family through the website: www.johnson-danielson.com<http://www.johnson-danielson.com>
