Category: Obituary: K

The Reverend Dr. Robert Kimball—Tillich scholar, seminary president, deeply thoughtful and visionary educator, and beloved mentor to a generation of UU ministerial students—died at age 88 on 29 May 2017.

Early in his career, Bob Kimball became a close student of the work of theologian Paul Tillich, who appointed him, at age 31, to be his literary executor, a role Bob filled for nearly thirty years.

Robert Charles Kimball was born on 6 June 1928 in Rochester, NY, to parents Frederick Booth Kimball and Marguerite Steinmiller Kimball. He earned a B.A. in psychology from Oberlin

College (OH, 1951), an M.A. in philosophy from Oberlin Graduate School (1953), a B.D. from Oberlin Graduate School of Theology (1955), and a Ph.D. in the history and philosophy of religion from Harvard Univ. (MA, 1960).

After service as a religious educator to United Church of Christ congregations while still a student, the Rev’d Dr. Kimball began nearly four transformative decades of teaching theology (but really a formational counselor) on the Starr King faculty (1959–98), including many years as the school’s president (1968–83) and dean (1983–97).

His profound personal influence is legendary in the memory of students. Michelle Tonozzi recalls “the radical YES [that he spoke] to each student for their most authentic self.” 

In individual student conferences, recalls Keith Kron, “Bob often saw two layers below the [surface] problem or question.” And Barbara Pescan adds, “He cut out the extraneous. He saw through lies, even when they were self-effacing, or denying some sadness: ‘Do you always laugh when you mean to cry?’”

Robert Kimball is survived by children Seth, Jeanette, Amy, and Paul, plus six grandchildren, and is revered by scores of Starr King School graduates.

Lorna Jean Kimball, spouse of the Reverend Dr. Bob Kimball, died 26 May 2017. She was born 8 December 1929 in Bombay, India and spent most of her childhood in India. Her father was a missionary and her mother taught in a school for the deaf. Lorna came to the U.S. as a young woman to attend Oberlin College in Ohio.

While attending college, she met Robert Kimball, and they were married 25 August 1951. They had four children , who kept her very busy while Bob completed his education, became ordained, and began his career. When his career took him to Starr King School for the Ministry and the family was established in California, she returned to university and earned her credentials to teach special needs students. That became her career, which she pursued for many years.

Lorna had many interests which sustained her, aside from her work and family. She loved to play music and for most of their lives together always had a piano or keyboard standing by. Another passion was bird watching. Lorna loved growing things, and had a special gift for growing orchids and getting them to bloom.

After she left her school and Bob retired from Starr King, they moved to Alameda and settled into a quiet life. They took frequent walks and often took their meals in local establishments. They were a team and attended to each other. This became more difficult when she developed Alzheimer’s and struggled with dementia. Her final months were hard, but Bob and their children looked after her until the end.

Lorna is survived by her children; Seth, Jeanette, Amy, and Paul; six grandchildren; her brother, Owen Thomas; and sister, Patricia Becker.

The Rev. Roger Otis Kuhrt, 70, died January 17, 2012. A native of Seattle, he earned his BA from Whitworth College, his MA from the University of Washington, and his PhD from Columbia Pacific University. He also studied at Washington State University. Originally ordained by the Disciples of Christ, he was called to serve the UU Congregation in Olympia, WA. He also served the Tahoma UU Congregation in Tacoma, WA. During his ministry, he was a consulting minister to several congregations in the Pacific Northwest District. Colleagues described him as a “lover of knowledge and seeker of truth.” He was a member of a number of professional, community, and religious organizations over the years, serving on the boards of many. Roger is survived by his wife, Pam Gill-Kuhrt; his daughters, Sharene Kuhrt-Nelson and Stacey Kuhrt; and a grandson.

Mary Sage Mackay Kring, 80, widow of the Rev. Walter Donald Kring, died August 20, 2011. She served as DRE at All Souls Church in New York City. A history buff, she enjoyed editing her husband’s books. Sage, as her family called her, was also a proponent of alternative medicine.

The Rev. Dr. Virginia Perin Knowles, 87, died January 23, 2011 in Mitchellville, MD, following a long decline. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University. She also studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. The CIA recruited her to work with refugees and ex-patriots in Eastern Europe. Ginny worked in RE in Mt Vernon, VA and Bethesda, MD. She then worked with the Office (now Department) of Education as an international specialist. She went on to study for her D.Min. at Meadville Lombard and to serve churches in CA and PA. She became an accredited interim minister and served churches in IL, KY, NY, WI and MD. After retiring in 1992 she served the Lynchburg, VA congregation part-time for six years. She served on the governing board of the UUUN Office, Collegium and UUs for Social Justice. She is survived by her twins: Christopher (Kit) and Catherine Perin Knowles, of Tucson. She was predeceased by her son, Jeffrey.

Ruth Gregory Knapp, 82, widow of the Rev. Calvin Knapp, died in a motor vehicle accident June 8, 2007 on a family vacation to the Grand Canyon. The Knapps had served congregations in Quincy and Waltonville, IL, and Evansville, Terre Haute and Danville, IN. Ruth supported her husband’s ministry behind the scenes with everything from proofreading to research. She oversaw major church fundraising dinners and council of churches events. The family ran a travel agency and Ruth’s passion was planning and running motorcoach tours across the US and Canada with passengers from Nashville, through Kentucky and Evansville. Her favorite tour of them all was the New England Fall Foliage trip, which she directed for more than 25 years. She also enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles. She is survived by their children: Gregory, Steven and Scott Knapp and Jane Knapp Walling; and by three grandchildren.

The Rev. Dr. Webster Lardner Kitchell, 71, died on February 9, 2009 of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He served churches in NYC, Kirkwood, MO, Houston, TX, and Santa Fe, NM. The Santa Fe congregation named him minister emeritus. He was active in the UU Historical Society. His community activities included The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy, the Kirkwood, Missouri Ministerial Alliance, and president of the Committee for Responsible Citizenship. He loved cars from his first, a ’34 Ford convertible which he got when he was 19, to his last, a convertible Mustang. He was preceded in death by his wife of 23 years, Nancy Gay Mottweiler Kitchell. He is survived by his children Catherine, David and Benjamin, three stepchildren, three grandchildren and one step-grandchild, his companion, Nancy Driesbach, and his eldest brother, Frank.

The Rev. Dorothy Wilson Kimble, 69, died at home July 1, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. First trained as an RN, she said she grew up between the era of June Cleaver and the expectations and opportunities available to women today. She worked on medical and surgical hospital floors, as a visiting nurse, school teaching nurse and psych nurse. Dot went on to earn her BA from Framingham State College and her M.Div. from Andover Newton. She served churches in Northboro, MA; Marlboro, MA; Augusta, ME and Groton, MA. She is believed to be the first UU woman minister to be called to a permanent settlement in the state of Maine. She also served several parishes as an interim minister. She wrote poetry, sermons, nursing articles and had her work Sacred Trust: Ministering to Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse published by the Alban Institute. Dot served as a Caring Network Contact for UURMaPA in our Connecticut Valley Region. She is survived by her husband, Stanley Kimble, and their daughters, Diane Kimble Willcutts and Laurie Kimble, and three grandchildren.

The Rev. Richard G. Kimball, 72, died June 23, 2007. He served congregations in Hingham, Westborough, Somerville, Billerica, Fitchburg, Woburn, Boston, West Roxbury and Essex, MA. He also served the Stockport, England, Unitarian Church. He was named minister emeritus by Theodore Parker UU Church, West Roxbury, in 1985 and by the First Universalist Church of Essex in 2004. He was a member of the UU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns Committee, the Religious Arts Guild, the Interfaith Committee, the Visiting Nurses Association, and the Aids Action Committee among others. A gifted teacher, he was an instructor of Psychology at Bunker Hill Community College, Mass. Bay Community College, Newbury College and Berklee School of Music. His wife, Deirdre Kimball, and son Jordan Kimball survive him. A memorial service was held at Goddard Memorial Chapel, Tufts University, Medford, MA.

Doris McBride Kellison, 94, widow of the Rev. Walter E. Kellison, died February 19, 2011. The Kellisons served congregations in ME, MI and IA while they reared three children. A graduate of the Rochester Business Institute, Doris used her secretarial skills, first doing church work and then transcribing medical records. She went on to become the secretary for an internal medical practice for many years. She was a reader, who enjoyed good conversation. She also loved to walk. She liked to cook and was an avid recipe collector. She enjoyed growing basil and parsley in her garden to add her own touch to meals. Late in life she took up doing crosswords and double crostics. She was predeceased by her husband and by her daughter, Judith. She is survived by her children, Walter and Kathy, her daughter-in-law, two granddaughters and a great granddaughter.