Jack R. Kimbrell

Jack Kimbrell, born May 12, 1940, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, December 21, 2017. Originally from Pennsylvania, Jack spent most of his childhood in northern Alabama. A graduate of Town Creek High School and football player for the University of Alabama, Jack served in the Army as a young man. During his lifetime, he worked at the Pentagon and as a police officer. He drove for Mason-Dixon, managed the Kingsport Speedway, worked for Holston Defense and retired from Eastman as a lab worker and first class machinist. A World War II enthusiast, Jack had a great passion for aviation. His greatest accomplishments included obtaining his pilot’s license, being inducted as Colonel into the United States Militia by President Ronald Reagan, and piloting jet airplanes for International Jets. In 1990, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of air show production with the “Wings in Autumn” International Air Show. He was an avid reader, a lover of all creatures great and small, and enjoyed listening to Gaither gospel music. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and founder of the Torch of Freedom Air Group. Above all else, he loved his family. While frequently accused of being a cast member of “Grumpy Old Men”, Jack always had plentiful words of adoration and praise for his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Bob and Zula Kimbrell, and his three brothers, Robert, Geary, and Larry.Left to cherish his memory is the love of his life, his wife of 50 years, Claudetta; his daughter and her husband, David and Kami Preston; three grandchildren, Adeline, Reid and Garnet; sister, Ann King; one sister-in-law, Elizabeth Quillen; two brothers-in-law, Charlie Herron and his wife Susan and Leo Dykes; and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 27th from 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM in the Foyer of Berndt Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 161 East Ravine Road, Kingsport, TN 37660.The Order for the Burial of the Dead will follow at 4:00 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with The Rev. Dr. Anna Brawley and The Rev. Chris Harpster, officiating.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Mr. Kimbrell to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 or Email: donors@stjude.orgAn online guest registry may be signed by visiting www.oakhilifh.com. The care of Mr. Jack R. Kimbrell and his family has been entrusted to Oak Hill Funeral and Cremation Services.Read Obituary