Robert Earl Kimmell

Robert Earl Kimmell aka "Bob" or "Bobby" was born on February 5, 1927 into the family of Roy L. & Virginia J. Kimmell with 31/2 year old brother Roy L. Kimmell Jr. in Los Angeles, CA. and passed away peacefully at his home on July 7, 2014.

1930's ...You've all had your parents or grandparents tell you they had to walk 5 miles to school each day, well for "Bobby" this was true. He and his older brother Roy attended a one-room schoolhouse in Newberry Springs, CA, affectionately referred to as the "desert", located at the corner of Newberry Rd & Silver Valley Rd.

Bob would often tell the story of how his older brother Roy would carry him on his back to and from school that long 5 miles to their home each day.  However, if they were lucky enough to be awake and ready at 4:30 A.M., they could hitch a ride to school with their father, but then wait the 3 hours until school started.

"Life on the desert was hard, but everything was hard during those times for everyone" Bob used to say. It was while growing up on the desert where Bob grew to love the outdoors along with hunting and fishing. This love would stay with him and be passed onto his wife, children and friends throughout his lifetime.

1940's... Bob attended Foshay Junior high School in Los Angeles followed by Manual Arts High School. Bob left high Scholl in 1945 to join the U.S. Navy on February 10, 1945, just 5 days after his 17th birthday, and then later returned after being honorably discharged on August 8, 1946 to graduate.

While in the Navy, he was a Seaman 1st Class serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Area stationed in the Philippines on the USS Pickaway.

In January 1947, Bob was living in Roger Young Village, a Veteran residence located in Griffith Park, CA, when he met and fell in love with Virginia Marie Wilson. While dating, their times were filled with going roller skating, to the movies, horseback riding and hanging out at the Malt Shop listening to the popular Big Band music of the day.

Favorite bands were Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Paul Whiteman and Vaughn Monroe. Favorite singers of the day were Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Buddy Clarke, Jo Stafford, Helen Forrest and Patty Page. Bob's absolute favorite song of all was Rhapsody in Blue played by Paul Whiteman.

In later years, Bob enjoyed Willie Nelson and Alabama as well as Hawaiian music.

In 1947, Bob began his career in telecommunications working for Pacific Telephone (later Pac Bell) which he retired from in May 1982 after 35 years with the company.

Bob and Virginia were wed June 19, 1948.

On June 27, 1949, the first of three children, a boy named Robert Earl Kimmell Jr was born.

1950's.... Bob and Virginia purchased their 1st home in Westchester, CA.

Life in Westchester... In the years to come, another son, Craig was born followed by a daughter, Susan. Family life was good and filled with activity. Bob was a devoted husband and father very much involved with his family. He was very involved in his both his boy's Little League baseball and often "umpired" the games. As the boy's got older, they played Pony League, Colt League and American Legion baseball. Bob was also involved with his children's PTA. and even received a Lifetime Award from the Local Council. Bob worked the bakery at school bazaars.

Bob raised each of his children to "do it right the first time'...you know, the old "anything worth doing..." saying.

Bob was a builder, carpenter, plumber, mason, gardener, roofer, painter, and telephone expert. As he matured, he became a teacher to younger men passing on his knowledge.

He loved to hunt quail, deer and rabbits but his favorite outdoor sport was fishing, both deep sea fishing for tuna and fresh water fishing for trout, steelhead and catfish. He had his own lake on the desert stocked with catfish, bluegill and bass.

Bob enjoyed taking Virginia and the kids each year for vacation to the High Sierra's to go camping and fishing all the while teaching his children to appreciate nature.

The house in Westchester was always booming with activity and friends while the kids were growing up. One special thing was Bob's encouragement in allowing his children to invite friends along for trips up to the desert where they too could learn about the outdoors, hunting and fishing.

Bob would also go on his annual deer hunting trips to Utah with his "buddies".

Grampa Bob... Bob loved being a Grandfather. He had 3 biological grandchildren, Kevin, Jamie and Colleen born to son Craig and his wife Mary. However, Bob also had "surrogate" grandchildren, Matthew, Jeffrey, Gregory and Alyssa born to Tim and Denise Hendrick, and Tristen Sauder born to Jackie Sauder. He loved those children and savored spending time with them or talking to them on the phone.

Bob currently has four great grandchildren, Hayden Olivia Seymore, born to Colleen Kimmell, Gavin Anthony, born to Jamie Kimmell and Dylan Reed & Ryan Anthony born to Matt & Lisa Hendrick.

Bob and Virginia also were surrogate parent's to a numerous people, John Conner, Tim & Denise Hendrick, Jackie Sauder, Skip & Casie Williams and Jerry Boone to name a few....

Bob had an extremely large family with many nephews and few nieces…he often said the family was dominated by males.

Later years ... Bob loved going to Hawaii and while there on the island of Maui, he enjoyed watching the whales in the bay with their young play.  He also loved going on deep sea fishing trips for tuna with friends and his sons. Bob was devoted to his wife Virginia, whom he celebrated his 66th wedding anniversary with on June 19, 2014.

He also loved going up to Las Vegas or down to Harrah's Rincon (northern San Diego County) to play the slots. His favorite game was Keno.

Bob was very saddened by the death of his eldest son, Bob Jr. in 2005.

In 2011, after 62 years of living in Westchester, Bob and Virginia moved to Perris, CA.

Bob enjoyed living at the new house as the weather was reminiscent of that of the desert as he loved the heat. He also enjoyed the horses, dogs and cats.

Up until a few days prior to his death, Bob was still enjoying his daily duty of cutting carrots and apples every evening as treats for the horses. He enjoyed sitting outside on the patio watching the horses run around especially when one of the dogs was playing with the horses. Bob always had a way with animals his entire life and enjoyed them.

The last known "two-way" conversation Bob had was with a co-worker of his son-in-law, Kim, Memorial weekend out on the patio.  Bob spoke of living up on the desert, what they used to do for fun, what life was like living in Westchester and how he was enjoying living in Perris. He spoke about the turtles and life in general.

Bob was an expert story teller and his stories of family member’s long departed, his family history and knowledge he would share will be sorely missed.

R.I.P. Bob …until we meet again….