William Calvin Kimbrell Sr.

FORT MILL - Mr. William Calvin Kimbrell Sr., 89 years 363 days, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, at Unity Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill, with Dr. Dan Holloway and the Rev. Jeannie Bickett officiating.

Born in Fort Mill, Mr. Kimbrell was a son of the late Charles Sarger Kimbrell and Leila Belk Kimbrell. His family moved to Columbia, where he graduated from Columbia High School and attended the University of South Carolina. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. Mr. Kimbrell was a passionate philanthropist and member of Unity Presbyterian Church since 1947, where he served on numerous boards and was an elder, a deacon, superintendent of Sunday School and choir member for more than 50 years. He was a tremendous supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and other youth/education organizations and believed – in his own words – "it is better to build boys and girls than to mend men and women." Mr. Kimbrell enjoyed golfing, gardening and fishing, and especially loved his church, community, family and friends; he never met a stranger. He was retired from Kimbrell Furniture Company. Surviving are his wife of 27 years, Joanne J. Kimbrell; two daughters, Willann Woodward of Columbia and Karen Kimbrell of Fort Mill; his son, William Calvin Kimbrell Jr., and his wife, Dr. Eva Tollefsen, of Greenville; his sister, Carolyn Seigler, and her husband, Cecil, of Columbia; stepsons, Jimmy Austin and his wife, Cathie, of York and Jeff Austin and his wife, Vicki, of Spartanburg; grandchildren, Ashley Edwards and her husband, Mark, of Rock Hill, Alison Gonzales and husband, Arthur, of Columbia, Dixon Woodward and wife, Erica, of Charleston, Chad George of Charleston, Katie Kimbrell of Boston, Margaret Kimbrell of Charleston and Will Kimbrell of Greenville; stepgrandchildren, Jordan, Morgan, Hannah and Grayson Austin; and three great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Melba Cassels Kimbrell; his son-in-law, Andy Woodward; sisters, Nancy K. Davis, Evelyn K. Seigler and Leila K. Page; and a brother, Crawford Kimbrell.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, at Unity Presbyterian Church and other times at the home.

Memorials may be made to Unity Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1267, Fort Mill, SC 29716; to the Boy Scouts of America, 420 S. Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29306; or to York Technical College Foundation, 452 S. Anderson Road, Rock Hill, SC 29730.

Condolences may be made at www.wolfefuneralhome.com.