Obituary of William Ellery Kimber

William Ellery Kimber, Jr., 72, was born with the gift of laughter, and a sense that the world was mad — died on May 14, 2010 after a brief struggle with lung cancer. He was born in Wakefield, Rhode Island on November 28, 1937 to Ellery and Ellen Kimber. He was raised in Parkdale, Oregon and graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Television Production. He relocated to the Tacoma area to take a position at Clover Park School District’s Channel 56, later KPCQ Channel 13 as a TV Producer/Director. He retired from CPSD as an educator. Bill was a caring, loyal friend and kind curmudgeon; loving father to his son Eliot and devoted to his granddaughter Yu-Da. He was a passionate pacifist, avid reader who loved history. He lived for his family, his collections, and his friendships. He was a treasure hunter extraordinaire and avid camera and photographica collector as well as founding member of The Puget Sound Photographic Collectors Society. He was the Newsletter Editor and ongoing chair of their annual Spring camera sale, swap & show and other events. Bill was very proud of his role as founder and caretaker of the William E. Kimber Memorial Trail at Fort Steilacoom Park. He is survived by son Eliot (Julie), granddaughter Yu-Da (Dada), and his loving companion Mary Ann Zintheo. Please raise a martini to toast our fine friend and make an effort to reach out, reconnect, reunite with a friend of yours. We learn sadly that the mainstays in our life are taken too soon. Mike, please cancel our treasure trip in July. I’ll be with you in spirit (or something). We ask friends to bring their favorite Kimber story to share with his family at a celebration of Bill’s life Sunday May 23, 2010 at the Kimber residence, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. “Life is a farce and all things show it I thought so once and now I know it.”