Marilyn Joan (Ford) Kimber
Joan passed away peacefully in the hospital just a few hours after suffering a stroke. Her family was with her during those precious hours before her passing. She was born in Sacramento, CA, on October 29, 1933. She was a former resident of Fremont, CA, and a resident of Livermore, CA 2004-present. Joan was a sixth-generation Californian. She was the daughter of the late Walter Olen Ford and Alice Eleanor (Simonson) Ford. Granddaughter of the late Henry F. Ford and Christina Ford of Grass Valley and Sacramento, CA. Great Granddaughter of the late John Edward and Julia Kvenfold Iverson of Orland, Calif. Joan is survived by her large and loving family and her beloved husband, of 66 plus years, Robert John Kimber, daughter Marilyn Janiece (Kimber) Spelce, Martinez, CA; son David John Kimber (Carolyn), Palo Verdes Peninsula, CA; and beloved granddaughters Erin Leigh Spelce and Kathryn Elizabeth Spelce; and Brothers Walter F. Ford (Janet), Irvine CA; and Jon W. Ford (Debi), Manteca, CA; Sister in Laws, Dr. Clarissa T. Kimber, Bryan, TX; Elizabeth Kimber Nurser, Sudbury, England, UK, and treasured Rotary Exchange Student “daughters” Waine Tebas Guimaraes Cunha (Bruno), Belo Horizonte, Brazil and Daniela Lage (Thiago), Itabira, Brazil; good friend, Jan Brandt, Fremont and childhood/lifelong friend Betsy Schmitz (Ken), Cascade, MT; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, nursing school classmates, and Rotary friends in Brazil and Fremont.
Joan was predeceased by her sister Darlene (Ford) Fraser, Brother-in-law, Steven Fraser, and sister-in-law Naomi Kimber Marshall.
Joan was a graduate of the C.K. McClatchy High School. Class of 1951, and an Honor Graduate of the Highland Alameda County School of Nursing, Class of 1954. She received her BA in Health Services Administration from St. Mary’s College, Moraga in 1983 and graduated with Honors. She lived in Fremont from 1956 to 2004 before moving to Livermore.
Joan’s life was one of service both in her chosen profession and in her community. She worked in many facets of nursing: US Army hospital, Ft. Eustice, VA; in various private hospitals, doctors’ offices, and Occupational Health. Joan became a Red Cross nurse volunteer during hurricane Katrina, a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader; a substitute teacher; a United Crusade chairman, and active in the Fremont Philharmonic Guild in its early days. She was an active Niles Rotary wife and one of Niles Rotary’s founding Inner Wheel members. Through Inner Wheel, she was instrumental in helping to establish scholarships for the students of the Fremont Unified School District’s Young Mothers Program.
Joan and John led two separate Rotary Friendship Exchanges to Brazil. They established deep and enduring friendships with Rotarians in the states of Minas Gerais and Parana. Joan loved to fly and enjoyed trips to Europe, Norway, South America, Tahiti, Hawaii and Mexico, and various parts of the US. Her well-worn luggage and frequent passport renewals attest to her wandering spirit. Her favorite motto was, “Have passport, will travel.”
Joan and John spent frequent happy times at their mountain house in Pioneer (Amador County), fishing and hiking throughout the Sierra Mountains. Joan thoroughly enjoyed many hobbies including knitting, sewing, painting, gardening, making lists of “what to do”; but especially reading. She was an inveterate reader and could spend hours engrossing herself in an eclectic mix of subjects, wholly oblivious to the world around her.
One “hobby” she did not relish was the duty of keeping all of the family financial and other records in order. Nevertheless, she did it with such dedication and organization that she had everything at her fingertips. John could not understand how someone could be so organized.
Joan had an amazing memory and was a wonderful storyteller. She loved to relate to her husband John and friends, the many escapades and experiences she had growing up with her large extended family in Sacramento and Grass Valley, as well as with her favorite high school “gang” members.
Joan was a long-time member of St. James Episcopal Church, Fremont, and served many times as one of its Deanery Representatives and Lector. She will be missed not only by her immediate and extended family but by her many good friends in Fremont, Livermore, Pioneer, and Brazil.
A Celebration of Joan’s life and a service of Holy Eucharist may be held at a later date to be announced at St. James Episcopal Church, 37051 Cabrillo Terrace, Fremont, CA, (510-797-1492).
Cremation was under the auspices of the Neptune Society. Cremains are to be scattered by the family in a private location at a later date. Memorial donations in Joan’s name may be made to: St. James Episcopal Church Endowment Fund (Historical Little Church) P.O. Box 457, Fremont, CA 94537; the Niles Rotary Foundation P.O. Box 7104, Fremont, CA 94537; or to a charity of your choice.
Neptune Society, Livermore CA 925.454.3224