Philip Roger Kimball

Kimball, Philip Roger Age 66, of Corrales, NM, passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday, October 12, 2011. He was born on May 8, 1945, VE Day, in Ontario, OR to Captain Roger Elwood Kimball and Helen Elaine Smith. He was preceded in death by his father, a pilot who was killed in action in the Korean conflict. He is survived by his son, Alex Kimball of Albuquerque, NM; longtime life companion, Ruth Pirttinen; parents, James and Elaine Bow; brothers, Stephen Kimball, Bob Bow, all of Alpine, TX. Phil attended high school in Alpine, TX, and earned a degree in Spanish from Texas Tech University. He later completed teacher certification classes at Boise State University in Idaho, and received a master's degree in library science from the University of Arizona. After college he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a Spanish-language radio operator stationed in Panama, Nevada and Washington, D.C. He was a reporter at the El Paso Times in the mid-1970's, then taught Spanish, English and humanities for years in the schools in Boise, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas and Albuquerque. He was a manager of the South Valley branch of the public library until he retired in 2010. Phil was known for his outgoing personality and inquisitiveness. Travel was the love of his life, having visited Spanish Pyrenees, Panama, and many other major cities of Western and Eastern Europe. Phil enjoyed conversing in Spanish whenever the opportunity presented itself. Phil enjoyed oil painting and many of his pictures hang on the walls of friends' homes. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at Central United Methodist Church on the corner of University and Central in Albuquerque, NM. Philip's care has been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services
4310 Sara Road
Rio Rancho, New Mexico, 87124
505-892-9920