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The funeral service for James Kimbrell is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 22, 2018, at Henninger~Hinson Funeral Home Chapel with Steve Hoffsommer officiating.
James Kimbrell was a Dust Bowl orphan raised by nuns in Bethany, Oklahoma.
As a teen, he transitioned to St. Joseph's Prep School where he did custodial work in exchange for room, board, and tuition; he excelled at football and all sports.
Immediately after graduating, he joined the navy and learned his given name was in fact Kimbrell (not Kimbrew as he had always believed).
Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, he met Delcy at church and was married soon after. He worked his way through college while supporting his rapidly growing family and joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a radioman. He completed many missions on a cargo plane during the Bay of Pigs.
Returning home, he decided to become a teacher and coach, and found work in many small town schools across Oklahoma, including Pierce, Slick, McLoud, and Carney, always with his family in tow.
James finally landed at Chisholm High School in Enid. The best years of his life were spent here as coach, teacher, administrator, mentor, role model and friend to the kids under his tutelage.
He eventually retired but, still having so much to give, he joined the Oklahoma Corrections Department as a teacher for nine more years.
When he retired for good, he was able to travel and spend time with his loving family for the remaining years of his life. In a final act of love for teaching, he chose to donate his body to O.U. Medical School.
James is survived by his wife Delcy of Enid; and his children, Casey Kimbrell of California, Kelly Kimbrell of Enid, Tracy Flatt of Enid, Scott Kimbrell of Harbin, China, and Angie Pennington of Austin, Texas. Also three grandchildren, Victoria Kimbrell of Enid, Molly Cummings of Enid, and Cole Pennington of Austin, Texas.
Condolences may be made at Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home online www.EnidWeCare.com.
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