David Franklin Kimbell

Mr. David Kimbell, son of the late Walker Eugene Kimbell II and Lucy Singleton Kimbell, was born June 7, 1947 in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. He was a registered respiratory therapist and later owned his own Chick-fil-A franchise in Monroe, NC. He professed his faith in Christ in his early 20’s in his sister and brother in-law’s living room. He served in the Baptist and Nazarene church as a Sunday School teacher who used his unique storytelling talents to bring the Scriptures to life. He also served as a youth leader, children’s church leader, and board member. He served as a board member at the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Monroe and volunteered for the local chapter of Medical Explorers. He also was a regular speaker at local DECA meetings. After Chick-fil-A, he worked as a respiratory therapist at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte and Presbyterian Hospital in Matthews. He also worked for two home health companies as a respiratory therapist. A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm on March 10, 2019 at Lee Park Church, 2505 Morgan Mill Rd, Monroe, NC 28110. He was married to Nelta Joy Kimbell in November of 1972. Mr. Kimbell was known for his generosity, servant’s heart, hard-working, humorous and adventurous spirit, and will be missed and remembered by all who knew and loved him. He loved to fish, play golf, and go to the Monroe Aquatics Center. He made life an adventure for his children and grandchildren filling days with scavenger hunts, taking walks in the woods, building forts and trapezes and the famous dangerous “shoot to shoot.” A wire hung high in the trees with a pipe before zip lines were thought of. He would pull his kids behind his car in the winter through snow with sled and skis. He taught so many people through the years to water-ski at Cane Creek Park on his boat and living room snow-ski lessons before heading up to Sugar or Beech Mountain. He encouraged a fearlessness about life to try before you shrink back, to view life with exuberance and expectation. He taught his kids the value of gratitude. Even in his suffering he would always say, “I am better than I deserve.” He also taught that the best things in life cannot be bought, only experienced with those you love with a vibrant imagination the whole world every moment is filled with amazing possibilities. His life is more than these snapshots, his life will continue to ripple more than he could have guessed. And he will be, in that most desirable place beholding His LORD Jesus with no veil, with a worship that defies human understanding for truly he will know as he is known. Washed in Jesus’ own blood, all his sins forever gone. His life is deeply imprinted in his family he leaves behind. His daughter Marie Kimbell Black and her husband Allan Black and children, Caitlin, Meghan, and Madison Black. His daughter Brenda Kimbell Lankford and her husband Richie Lankford and children, Brooke, Richie, and Presley Lankford. His daughter Kristy Kimbell Van Bibber and husband Kyle Van Bibber and children, Jesse Kimbell and wife Michelle Kimbell and Luke and Noah Van Bibber. His daughter Torri Kimbell Tyson and husband Jonathan Tyson and children, Hunter, Laikyn, and Cade Tyson. His son Bryan Kimbell and his wife Savannah Veal Kimbell. He is also loved well by his brother Walker Eugene Kimbell III and wife Carol Kimbell and their children and grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister Jean Kimbell Kelly. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hospice of Union County 700 West Roosevelt Blvd. Monroe, NC 28110, who helped walk us through this valley of death with dignity, comfort, and hope. Online condolences may be made to www.gordonfuneralservice.com. Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory is caring for the Kimbell family.