Claude Kimbrel

Col. Claude R. Kimbrel, USAF retired passed away Friday, March 13, 2009 at his home in rural Coffeyville, Kansas. He was 91. Claude was born February 2, 1918 in rural Coffeyville to Rosco M. and Alma Murray Kimbrel. He grew up attending Coffeyville schools graduating from Field Kindley High School. He went on to complete three years of college in Wichita College. In February of 1941, he joined the Army Air Corps before WWII. He was stationed at Luke Field in Arizona where he met future wife, Sue. He was in Burma at the end of WWII he was sent home by ship. He smuggled his deceased comrades dog onto the boat to bring it home. He returned to Arizona and married Sue Blair on June 14, 1948 at St. Edwards Church in Belleville, Kansas. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon, stationed in Munich, Germany. The Kimbrels would also be stationed in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and Long Island, New York, where Claude received his Masters Degree in Psychology from Columbia University. The list of Air Force Bases grew to include Chanute AFB in Illinois; Lackland AFB in San Antonio; Norfolk, Virginia; Baltimore and Andrews AFB in Washington, D.C. Also, Research and Development in downtown D.C. and later was Base Commander at Ft. Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. The Kimbrels later were sent to Norton AFB in California and it was there Claude retired from his military service. He then went to work for Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas where he retired for a second time. Claude and Sue moved to Coffeyville in 1986 and Claude built a home on property he had purchased in 1943, the week before he met his future bride. He was most recently a member of the Dearing United Methodist Church, where he was also an Elder. Claudes passion was flying and it didnt matter what kind of craft he flew. He was a member of both the Coffeyville and Independence Flying Clubs, where he gave many children their first plane ride. He was a volunteer Tax Preparer in Coffeyville and Independence and worked with the Coffeyville Literacy Project. Claude was a member of the Coffeyville American Legion and VFW posts. He took great pride in his pecan grove that included over 1,000 trees, some of which he made hybrids of. During his military career, Claude was the recipient of numerous awards, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses; Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Cluster; Armed Forces Campaign Medal; WWII Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal and a Presidential Citation awarded to the 80th Fighter Group Burma Banshees. Survivors are his wife, Sue of the home; two daughters, Blair Jennifer Dalton and her husband, Bob of Topeka, Kansas and Deborah Kay Sylvester and her husband, James of McLean, Virginia; five grandchildren, Katherine MacDonald, David Sylvester, Laura Hamilton, Caroline Hastings and Deborah Dalton and one great-grandchild, Chase Hastings. He was preceded in death by his parents; by a daughter, Claudia Sue Kimbrel; by three brothers, Oba, Morris and Terrel Kimbrel and by three sisters, Lois Totten, Fern Carns and Alene Baker. Funeral services will be held 10AM, Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel with Pastor Bill Booe officiating. Committal rites with full military honors will be accorded Col. Kimbrel at Fort Scott National Cemetery, on Wednesday at 2:30PM. Friends may call at the funeral home 9AM-8PM, Tuesday and the family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-8PM. Family and friends may send online condolences at www.penwellgabel.com.