Gerald E. Kimbrell, 81 of Bloomington, died on Thursday, April 6 at the I.U. Hospice House. He was born on Jan. 6th, 1936 in Wayne County, Illinois to Carl and Wilma Kimbrell. Gerald married Ruth J. Waters on June 13, 1954.
Gerald graduated Edwards County High School in 1953. At the age of 17, Gerald starting cutting meat at the Kroger grocery store in Albion, Illinois, become the youngest meat cutter in Kroger’s history. In 1967, Ruth and Gerald bought the IGA in Noble, Illinois operated the store until 1974 when the family relocated to Bloomington,Indiana. In 1974, he started working for Wetterau Foods and retired from Super-Value in 1996.
Gerald was a member of the Ellettsville Lion’s Club and a longtime member of the Ellettsville Christian Church.
He enjoyed fishing, boating antiquing and spending time with family and friends. You could always find Gerald sitting on the sideline watching whatever sport was in season, attending school functions with grandchildren and watching his grandsons show 4-H pigs.
Survivors include: wife, Ruth of 62 years, son, Phil (Angie) Kimbrell of Cross Plains, Indiana, daughter, Jana (Butch) England of Bloomington, nine grandchildren, Candy LaMar (Ronnie) of New Mexico, Trent and Tyler Kimbrell of Columbus, Indiana, Blake and Lindsey Sutton of Osgood, Indiana, Katie and Tiffany Heselton of Shelbyville, Illinois and Alex and Jacob England of Bloomington. Brother, Vern Kimbrell of Elllery, Illinois, brothers in law and sisters in law and several nieces and nephews.
Proceeded in his death are his parents, brothers, Allen and Duane Kimbrell, daughter, Pam Heselton, an infant son and a great-grandson, Payton Heselton.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the IU Hospice House, Ellettsville Christian Church or Maple Grove Christian Church.
A celebration of life for Gerald will be Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. at the Ellettsville Christian Church with visitation to follow.