James Kimball was born in Michigan on November 16, 1936, the eldest of three siblings. He loved growing up in Detroit and Chicago. When Jim was 14 the family moved to New York. He returned to his roots to attend Purdue University and the University of Chicago, working happy summers on a dairy farm while earning a Master’s degree in Physics.
He met Margreta Gerhart in New York in 1959, traveled by VW Beetle with her to California, married and settled in Berkeley where Jim studied linguistics. Daughter Sara and son Daniel were born in 1961 and 1965.
Amidst all these challenges and changes of life, Jim became an expert pilot and flight instructor. He also helped form a commune in Southern Oregon, built a cabin there and managed the farm. When it disbanded, he worked tirelessly as a chief flight instructor in New York until 1973. The family moved to Corvallis so that Jim could study Electrical Engineering. He and Greta divorced in 1976.
During the 1960’s, James’ strong pacifist values and opposition to the Vietnam war led him to the Quakers. He attended Meeting in Berkeley, then Corvallis in the mid-1970’s, and Strawberry Creek (Berkeley) where he became a member.
From 1978-1995, Jim worked for electric utilities in Portland and Chicago. When he retired, he returned to Corvallis to stay, after 50-some peripatetic years. He transferred membership to Corvallis Friends Meeting.
Jim was the central figure in managing the renovation of the Corvallis Meeting House, comprising the Meeting room, expanded room for children, an entrance way and facilities. With Henry Van Dyke, Wayne Yarnall and Bob Burton, Jim led the realization of Laurie Childers’ vision from design to details. As with the others involved in the initial construction, he always had a special feeling of belonging for that meeting room.
Sometime later, he found in Buddhist meditation a practice and discipline that evolved his consciousness and serenity. Meeting saw little of him for some years.
Friends were gratified when he returned to Quakers, and then joined the new Corvallis FCNL Advocacy team in 2019. He spoke passionately of his respect for and affinity with the Quaker path to peace, justice and equality. In later life, he sought to activate the Light in the world through advocacy, alongside inner illumination through meditation.
Jim continued to enjoy travelling, camping and hiking. He was an avid music lover with a collection ranging from opera and plainsong through instrumental classics to world music and even abstract modern works.
James Anderson Kimball died peacefully shortly after midnight on March 3, 2021.
He is remembered by Friends for the following attributes. Jim was a private person, fiercely independent, steadfast in his convictions, forthright in his preferences, and faithful to simplicity in his life. He found it difficult to accept help, yet he was notably generous. He gave practical and emotional support to Friends and friends from Vancouver through the Bay Area and even to Central America. Corvallis Friends recall frequent acts of kindness. People who shared private times with Jim found him warm, curious, attentive and interesting. More than one Friend admired Jim’s ability to listen respectfully and patiently and to reflect before responding in a respectful and usually enlightening manner.
In recent years, medical and physical conditions limited and frustrated Jim’s participation. He enjoyed walks with Friends as long as he could. He wanted to be with people, and deeply appreciated all who came to visit on his patio to eat, explore matters of substance, reminisce and laugh together. Because of his travels, Jim and visitors often found they had places and experiences in common. His dog Cory shared many of those.
Friends agree that Jim Kimball was a valuable asset to the Meeting, and through the legacy of our Meeting room itself, will be remembered for a long time. He is admired by many and missed by all who gained his friendship.
Jim is survived by daughter Sara Kimball, son Daniel Harris, and grandchildren Annamaria Kimball, Alexander Harris and Julian Harris.