Dr. William A. Doc Kimball, 78
Dr. William A. "Doc" Kimball, 78, a Bigfork resident, passed away December 26th in Kalispell Regional Medical Center from injuries sustained in an auto accident.
He was born October 26, 1928 in Detroit, Mich. to Clarence M. and Marie C. Kimball. He grew up in Royal Oak, Mich. He graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1945 and went into the Marine Corps for three years. After being discharged, he attended Michigan State College of Science and Agriculture (later renamed Michigan State University) and graduated in 1953 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine.
Upon graduating from college, he moved to San Pedro, Calif. and worked in a veterinary hospital before opening his own practice in Torrance, Calif., which he named Clarmar Animal Hospital. This eventually led to opening three more clinics. Doc came to the Bigfork area in the early 60's to go hunting and fell in love with Montana. In 1968, he sold the three satellite clinics, leased out the Clarmar Animal Hospital, and moved to Bigfork. During his first year in Bigfork he was introduced to his second passion in life, Arabian horses. This lead to the founding of Clarmar Arabians and his moving to a 57 acre farm overlooking Bigfork. In 1995 he retired, sold the farm and the horses, and moved to a home overlooking Flathead Lake on the East lakeshore.
Doc married Patricia Ann Robertson in 1948. They had four sons-Ross born in 1954, Scott in 1955, Tom in 1958 and Todd in 1960. They divorced in 1963. He then married Donna Fae Overlease in 1965. Donna had a daughter Melody, born in 1959. The couple then had one son named Monty, born in 1966. Doc later adopted Melody as his own daughter.
Ever since Doc was a kid, he has loved hunting and fishing. He has hunted and fished in California, Alaska and his beloved Montana. He enjoyed general aviation, had a private pilot's license, and even owned his own plane for a while. In retirement he enjoyed trap and skeet shooting and belonged to two local gun clubs, including enjoying a "lifetime" membership in the Bigfork Rod and Gun Club.
Doc was preceded in death by his wife Donna, his brother Richard, and his son Ross. He is survived by his sister Mary of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; his children: Scott of Kirkland, Wash., Tom of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Melody of Sandpoint, Idaho, Todd of Los Gatos, Calif., and Monty of Los Angeles; eleven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a special niece, Marie of Bigfork; his faithful laborador, Dee Dee; and that "damn cat".
Doc will be greatly missed by all that knew him. His family wishes to extend special thanks to all of his friends and neighbors who have loved and supported him throughout his life.
Memorial Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday Jan. 2 in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel in Kalispell. Donations can be made to MASH at the Kalispell Regional Hospital, the Humane Society, 43 Woodland Park Dr. Kallispell, MT 59901 or the ASPCA, 424 E. 92nd St., New York, NY 10128.