Chester Tome Kimble Jr., 78

FENWICK ISLAND - Chester Tome Kimble Jr. of Fenwick Island passed away Thursday, March 29, 2007, in St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, after a year-long battle to recover from injuries sustained while felling a tree. He was 78.

Chester was born Aug. 22, 1928, in Port Deposit, Md., son of Chester T. Kimble Sr. and Mary Irene Eshleman.

After graduating from the Jacob Tome School and Johns Hopkins University, he started a family in Wilmington, working his entire career for the DuPont Co. in the finance department. An Air Force reservist during the Korean War, he also taught business at the University of Delaware for over 20 years.

Upon retirement, Chester moved to Fenwick Island where he and his second wife, Millicent, built a home and became part of the arts community there.

Throughout his life he was active in the YMCA, St. Mark"s United Methodist Church in Stanton, numerous animal conservation organizations and groups supporting the Armed Forces.

Born and raised on a dairy farm, Chester loved to observe nature and animals. His favorite pastimes were working around his property, eco-traveling and helping other people. He especially enjoyed the family of geese which stopped at his home every year during migration.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dawna Jean Brown.

He is survived by his wife, Millicent E. Kimble; a son, Gregory Tome Kimble of Los Angeles; a daughter, Cheryl Ann K. Fine and her husband, Ron, of Killingworth, Conn.; a sister, Dorothy K. Ryan of Salisbury, Md., and her daughters, D. Frances Ryan of Reston, Va., and Carol Tilghman and her husband, Philip, of Salisbury. He also had numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews in the Salisbury area.

Chester was a kind and loving husband, father, brother and uncle who will be remembered and loved always. He touched many lives and no one who knew him will ever forgot him. His tender, generous spirit and sense of humor will be with his loved ones forever.

Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Melson Funeral Chapel, West Avenue, Ocean View. A short service will follow. Burial will be 1 p.m. Wednesday in the cemetery adjacent to the Hopewell Methodist Church, 290 Adams Road, Port Deposit, Md.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, 636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A, Short Hills, NJ 07078.