Ferris Robert (Bob) Kimball, 85, of Lake Quivira, Kansas, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2021 with his family nearby.
Bob was born on May 24, 1935 in Kansas City, Kansas to Ferris Francis Kimball and Ruth Harley Miller and was baptized at Western Highlands Presbyterian Church.
As a very young man he learned to work hard and relished the time spent with his family, taking many special trips with his parents. Working in tandem with his father, the two garnished an envious collection of stamps, newspapers, military awards, rocks, shells, coins and flint arrowheads.
Bob graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, Kansas where he participated on the debate team and international relations club. He was the Wyandotte High School correspondent for the Kansas City Star, sports editor for the "Quiviran" (the High School Annual), and was the commencement speaker at his graduation for the class of 1953. Bob attended the University of Kansas and received a Liberal Arts degree, majoring in Speech. He participated on the KU Debate team where he was recognized as being a part of the number one, two-man team at KU, beating out the former national champions.
Bob joined the Kansas National Guard and was first assigned to the United States Army for infantry training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He was then assigned to Fort Ord, California for advanced infantry training, where he compiled the best record by a six-month trainee from the National Guard in Kansas City and was cited for “outstanding aptitude, attention to duty and exemplary performance of duty”. Bob spent the next five and a half years in the National Guard, eventually ending up as Platoon Sergeant of a heavy weapons platoon.
Bob met Linda Beth Denton, a college student and beauty queen at Baker University, who worked at an architectural firm two doors down from his office. Their courtship began with a “Coke date” in the basement of the Old Grund Hotel, followed by many outings to dinner, movies and picnics. Bob and Linda married in the First Pilgram Congregational Church in Kansas City on January 18, 1964. They lived together in Kansas City, Kansas eventually settling at Lake Quivira, Kansas.
Bob spent his entire career with the Ferris Kimball Company, a family business started by his father in 1930 that involved the sale and installation of refractory materials. He began in sales, eventually partnering with his father, and then becoming the sole owner.
Bob was very active in his community with membership in the Rotary Club and Congressional Forum throughout his life. He served as President of the Kansas City, Kansas Rotary Club from 1971-72, 25 years after his father held the same post. He was the County Chairman for the Republican Candidate for Governor and was active in Bob Dole's campaigns for the U.S. Senate. He strongly believed that every citizen has an unqualified obligation in our democracy to vote.
Bob was a sports and music enthusiast. He was an avid runner much of his life and was on a never-ending quest to improve his tennis game and catch that ever elusive, record-size muskie. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren on the tennis courts, soccer fields, and in the theatres. Bob valued education and was influential in encouraging his children and grandchildren to always work hard at school and to continue in their pursuit of higher education.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Linda Beth Denton. He is survived by two sons, Stephen Robert Kimball and Ferris Scott Kimball (Amy). He is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Ashlynn Kimball Larsen (Harry) of Omaha, Nebraska, Samuel Kimball and Elle Kimball.
Bob was a strong, determined, and fiercely independent man. We will miss him every day.
Special thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and Olathe Hospice House who provided invaluable care to Bob in his last months of life.
Visitation will be held from 9-10 a.m. with funeral services following at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 1 at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia Street, Lenexa, KS. A private burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wyandotte High School to help further higher education.