1929 – 2016

AUBURN — Gordon L. Kimball Sr. of Gray, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the Hospice Home after a brief illness.

He was born on Aug. 10, 1929, in Gray, the second child of Ernest and Mildred Kimball. He attended schools in Gray and graduated as salutatorian from Pennell Institute in 1948.

On Aug. 20, 1949, he married Bertha Tompson and they enjoyed 62 years together, until her death in 2011. After getting married, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and did one tour of duty in Korea. While serving in Korea, his first son was born and his wife told him that he had to stay in the states.

They moved back to Gray in 1956 and bought their house across the street from his parents and shortly after celebrated the birth of their second son. Upon returning to Gray, Gordon went to work at J.J. Nissen Baking Co. in Portland and in 1960 while at work on Aug. 9, their third son was born. Gordon always said the doctor may have rushed Ralph’s birth and in just a few short hours they could have enjoyed the same birth date.

In the mid-1980s, Gordon retired from Nissen’s and kept a close eye on the family gravel pit, some days counting the trucks as they would drive out to make sure they were all accounted for.

Gordon and Bertha were active in the Masonic and Eastern Star fraternity. After he retired, they enjoyed many trips around the United States attending Masonic functions, especially up and down the East Coast and New Brunswick. Gordon was a member of Cumberland Lodge No. 12, Golden Sheaf Chapter Order of the Eastern Star in New Gloucester. He belonged to all of the York Rite Bodies and was a 32nd degree Scottish Mason and a noble of Kora Shrine. Gordon was a past Ill. grand master of the Grand Council of Maine,  past grand high priest of the Grand Commandery of Maine, and a past junior grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Maine. He also belonged to most every appendant organization within the Masonic family.

Gordon was a lifelong member of the First Congregational Church in Gray. He was a member of Fraternity Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Portland, a member of the Grange, and the American Legion Post 86 in Gray, the VFW, and the Korean War Veterans Association. Gordon was very proud of his military service and would talk for hours about it.

He is survived by his three sons, Gordon Jr., Bruce and Ralph; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Gordon was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Bertha; brother, Gerald; sister, Ellen; and two grandchildren.

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