Ray Wesley Kimberlin
Ray Wesley Kimberlin passed away on April 17, 2024, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was 89.
Ray was born on Aug. 2, 1934, in LeRoy, Ks., and grew up helping his parents, H.W. Kimberlin and Anna Kimberlin, on the family's rural farm. After graduating from LeRoy High School, Ray moved to Dearing, Kansas, briefly attended Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University), then enlisted in the U.S. Army. Ray was stationed in Korea working combat support logistics (now the Defense Logistics Agency).
Ray earned an honorable discharge from the Army and landed jobs with Boeing in Seattle during its boom years and Wien Air Alaska as a purchasing agent in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Ray's interest in the transportation and planning industries was lifelong. He drove semi-trucks on the haul road, the desolate Dalton Highway that stretched from Anchorage to Deadhorse on the North Slope. To be closer to home, he expanded his operation to form Big Wheels Trucking and Trans-Arctic Freight based in Fairbanks, Al. He was charitable and drove a squeaky-clean semi-truck to pull the Elks & Emblem Club's float in the Golden Days Parade.
Always an entrepreneur, Ray owned and operated a game booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair, gold mines in rural Alaska, and an electric utility in Central, Al. He got into the commercial real estate business, first with warehouses and then office space to spec. He enjoyed a challenge and was a skilled negotiator.
Ray earned his recreational pilot's license and loved flying his co-owned Cessna 175 for business and pleasure in AK. He deeply respected Mother Nature and taught his kids to fish, hunt, and camp. Ray liked staying active. He golfed, played rec league softball, joined the Fairbanks Curling Club, and watched football, and the Oakland Athletics (Kansas City, 1955-1967) play. He was a Rotarian, and a member and former officer of the Elks Lodge.
Ray was curious and quick with a joke. Like his brother Steve, he valued family, traveling, meeting new people, and sharing a good laugh. "He would always laugh before the punch line to his own jokes," granddaughter Ashley Karella (Kimberlin) notes.
Ray was preceded in death by his brother Steve, sister Lois, daughter Marla, and son-in-law Buzz Otis.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah "Deb," son Rick (Sandy) Kimberlin, son Brad (Maureen) Kimberlin, daughter Darla Telischuc (Kimberlin), daughter Dawn Kimberlin, stepdaughter Renee Otis (Webb), stepson Richard "Rick" Webb, 14 grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and his beloved dog, Teddy.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Hamilton Funeral Home, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
Graveside service will be on Tuesday, April 30, at 2 p.m. at Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37404.
In lieu of flowers, Ray’s family kindly request donations be sent to Woodland Heights Baptist Church, 953 Beason Drive, Chattanooga, Tn. 37405, or your favorite charity.
Please share your memories of Ray with the family at www.hamiltonfhofchattanooga.com
Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343.