Prominent Huntsville Resident, Ed Kimbrough, dies at 77

Janet Morales - February 22, 2011

Edwin L. Kimbrough, 77, prominent Huntsville resident, died Friday, February 11, 2011 at his home in Huntsville, Missouri.

Ed’s obituary is on page 6 of today’s Mirror. It gives a brief account of who he was, where he came from and some of the ways he spent his time. But it doesn’t tell how his being here left an impact on the world.

Ed was from Clifton Hill. He is returning to the church and its holy grounds which were such a large part of his growing up. He continued throughout his life to work to keep historic Fort Henry Methodist Church maintained.

Ed seemed content to remain a farmer and cattleman. He literally spent his last breath working the land and caring for the stock. But as a youth the military took him away and gave him a taste of what it was like in other countries. It changed his life. Most significantly because he met Margaret Ungermann, a beautiful woman, inside and out, and made her his wife. But it also helped him see the difference in cultures and the importance of learning about those cultures in order for the world to truly get along peacefully.

Rotary Youth Exchange

Ed’s obituary on page 6 says he was an active member of the Huntsville Rotary and enjoyed working with the Foreign Exchange Student program through the Rotary Club. But Ed was not a casual participant in the program, only helping to support it financially. He and Margaret took students from all over the world into their home. They took an interest in them, making sure they were doing well in school, helping on the farm and developing their social skills while learning about rural American life and improving their English.

Julian Dekaf of France was the first, coming in 1993. Gaynor Prince was here from January 1995-January 1996 from South Africa. Netikorn (Nae) Thongtan of Thailand was here the next year, then Sam Broers of Belgium, Monica Villareal from Mexico, Anton Bogdanov from Russia, June Suvatthana of Thailand, Bernardo (Be) Silva from Brazil was here the school year of 2002-03, Tamniap (Bank) Khomhom of Thailand, Batu Uveyik came from Turkey, Maria Mora was here from Colombia, South America and perhaps their biggest challenge was Nut – Nitinut Namwong from Thailand who was here 2006-07.

Fellow Rotarian Harry Hall explained that the exchange students were hosted on a three-month basis with Ed and Margaret hosting the first three months, followed by Dan and Jan Shepherd and then on to the last family for the final three months of the school year.

“Ed was a key figure initially in bringing Rotary Exchange students to Westran High School,” said Hall. “He was assisted by Dan Shepherd in making the application for students and preparing them for a school year of life away from home. Ed expanded the circle from Huntsville Rotary to the point where he chaired the Rotary Exchange program for the entire District.”

Matt Eichor, Foundation Chair and member of the Kirksville Rotary, remembers Ed as taking the lead in promoting the Youth Exchange program.

“After a decision was made about changing the geographical boundaries of Rotary districts in Missouri, it became necessary to find someone who would be a ‘cheerleader’ for Youth Exchange in our district,” said Eichor. “ Ed, along with a few others, stepped up to this task. This required considerable time well beyond the time expected as a host family.

“In the 15 or so years I’ve gotten to know Ed, I have become aware of how committed he and Margaret were to this program of promoting peace and world understanding by providing young people from other countries an opportunity to see Americans as they lived and worked on a daily basis. That is seeing Americans as we really are!”

“My first memories of Ed center around his passion for the Youth Exchange program,” recounts Shirley Wurth, member of the Raytown Rotary Club and District 6040 Foundation Chair. “At one of my first District meetings, I was surprised by the commitment of this quiet man, a small town farmer, a Rotarian just like me, to bringing youth to northern Missouri for a year or for even the shorter Exchange time. Ed was persistent in telephoning me out of the blue to ask if I would encourage Rotarians in the more populated Greater Kansas City area to be hosts. I am not sure that many of us responded to his request but he did not give up but found places for these students.”

Eradicating polio

In the United States polio is a dread disease that survives only in the past. In 1985, according to Rotary International, persons in 125 countries suffered with the disease. Now polio is only endemic in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Eliminating the disease from the world is the top goal of Rotary.

Shirley Wurth explains that Ed was a leader on this front, as well. He became a Rotary Foundation Major Donor in 2009 and served as one of the four “Faces of the Foundation” in fundraising efforts. She tells groups of a woman with two young children and the importance of providing the polio vaccine, “especially in a polioendemic country like India.”

“Today I begin my stories with a man named Ed from northern Missouri,” said Wurth. “Unlike Raveena who lives in the city of Moradabad which has more horse carts, bicycles and wandering water buffaloes than cars and where unsanitary conditions help spread the wild polio virus, Ed lives in Huntsville, MO, a city of cars and sanitary conditions. Yet, there is a link between the two because Ed, as a Rotarian, is making sure that the polio vaccine reaches children like Raveena’s by contributing to the Rotary Foundation. Ed believes in the process and wants to live up to Rotary’s #1 goal – eradicating polio from the world.”

Shoes for Souls

There is another project that Ed and the Huntsville Rotary believe strongly in — collecting shoes for the program Shoes for Orphan Souls. The Huntsville group is repeatedly held up to other clubs as an example of how to pull together time, effort and resources to help children in desolate parts of the world. The group purchased 360 pairs of new shoes last year to donate.

Larry Lunsford, Macon, is a Rotary past district governor and the chairman for the Shoes for Orphan Souls Committee. Lunsford was on the truck that came through Moberly to pick up shoes from the Moberly and Huntsville clubs.

“I personally worked with Ed as he led the Huntsville Club (and spurred the moberly Club) to collect new shoes for the Shoes for Orphan Souls efforts of our Rotary District,’ said Lunsford. “Ed was diligent in his Rotary service. He was a man who you could count on. Quiet, but strong leadership. His commitment made you want to have a stronger commitment yourself.”

Huntsville Rotary

Ed worked to help children in his own neighborhood by serving on the Westran School Board and promoting educational programs. After 12 years on the board he decided it was time to let someone else take over. However, he had declared his candidacy to run for another term this spring.

“He was a great ambassador for the school district and cared deeply about kids,” said Superintendent Dr. Kelly Shelby. “He not only served his local district he held different leadership roles in the Missouri School Boards Association at the state level.”

Ed was also active in other civic and community activities but he will be best know for his Rotary work. He shall be buried wearing his Rotary tie.

A plaque to honor Ed’s memory is in the making and the inscription will read, “The Huntsville Rotary Club was truly blessed to have Ed Kimbrough as part of our family. Ed’s unassuming leadership in our club and community, passionate commitment to Rotary, and tireless effort on behalf of youth not only provided us joy by being part of his countless accomplishment, but challenged us to be better Rotarians. Ed will be dearly missed by our club, but his example will be a guide to all of us in how to be an outstanding Rotarian and always keep “Service Above Self”.

Edwin L. Kimbrough, 77, prominent Huntsville resident, died Friday, February 11, 2011 at his home in Huntsville, Missouri. Ed’s obituary is on page 6 of today’s Mirror. It gives a brief account of who he was, where he came from and some of the ways he spent his time. But it doesn’t tell how his being here left an impact on the world.Ed was from Clifton Hill. He is returning to the church and its holy grounds which were such a large part of his growing up. He continued throughout his life to work to keep historic Fort Henry Methodist Church maintained.Ed seemed content to remain a farmer and cattleman. He literally spent his last breath working the land and caring for the stock. But as a youth the military took him away and gave him a taste of what it was like in other countries. It changed his life. Most significantly because he met Margaret Ungermann, a beautiful woman, inside and out, and made her his wife. But it also helped him see the difference in cultures and the importance of learning about those cultures in order for the world to truly get along peacefully.Rotary Youth ExchangeEd’s obituary on page 6 says he was an active member of the Huntsville Rotary and enjoyed working with the Foreign Exchange Student program through the Rotary Club. But Ed was not a casual participant in the program, only helping to support it financially. He and Margaret took students from all over the world into their home. They took an interest in them, making sure they were doing well in school, helping on the farm and developing their social skills while learning about rural American life and improving their English. Julian Dekaf of France was the first, coming in 1993. Gaynor Prince was here from January 1995-January 1996 from South Africa. Netikorn (Nae) Thongtan of Thailand was here the next year, then Sam Broers of Belgium, Monica Villareal from Mexico, Anton Bogdanov from Russia, June Suvatthana of Thailand, Bernardo (Be) Silva from Brazil was here the school year of 2002-03, Tamniap (Bank) Khomhom of Thailand, Batu Uveyik came from Turkey, Maria Mora was here from Colombia, South America and perhaps their biggest challenge was Nut – Nitinut Namwong from Thailand who was here 2006-07.Fellow Rotarian Harry Hall explained that the exchange students were hosted on a three-month basis with Ed and Margaret hosting the first three months, followed by Dan and Jan Shepherd and then on to the last family for the final three months of the school year.“Ed was a key figure initially in bringing Rotary Exchange students to Westran High School,” said Hall. “He was assisted by Dan Shepherd in making the application for students and preparing them for a school year of life away from home. Ed expanded the circle from Huntsville Rotary to the point where he chaired the Rotary Exchange program for the entire District.”Matt Eichor, Foundation Chair and member of the Kirksville Rotary, remembers Ed as taking the lead in promoting the Youth Exchange program.“After a decision was made about changing the geographical boundaries of Rotary districts in Missouri, it became necessary to find someone who would be a ‘cheerleader’ for Youth Exchange in our district,” said Eichor. “ Ed, along with a few others, stepped up to this task. This required considerable time well beyond the time expected as a host family.“In the 15 or so years I’ve gotten to know Ed, I have become aware of how committed he and Margaret were to this program of promoting peace and world understanding by providing young people from other countries an opportunity to see Americans as they lived and worked on a daily basis. That is seeing Americans as we really are!”“My first memories of Ed center around his passion for the Youth Exchange program,” recounts Shirley Wurth, member of the Raytown Rotary Club and District 6040 Foundation Chair. “At one of my first District meetings, I was surprised by the commitment of this quiet man, a small town farmer, a Rotarian just like me, to bringing youth to northern Missouri for a year or for even the shorter Exchange time. Ed was persistent in telephoning me out of the blue to ask if I would encourage Rotarians in the more populated Greater Kansas City area to be hosts. I am not sure that many of us responded to his request but he did not give up but found places for these students.”Eradicating polioIn the United States polio is a dread disease that survives only in the past. In 1985, according to Rotary International, persons in 125 countries suffered with the disease. Now polio is only endemic in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Eliminating the disease from the world is the top goal of Rotary.Shirley Wurth explains that Ed was a leader on this front, as well. He became a Rotary Foundation Major Donor in 2009 and served as one of the four “Faces of the Foundation” in fundraising efforts. She tells groups of a woman with two young children and the importance of providing the polio vaccine, “especially in a polioendemic country like India.”“Today I begin my stories with a man named Ed from northern Missouri,” said Wurth. “Unlike Raveena who lives in the city of Moradabad which has more horse carts, bicycles and wandering water buffaloes than cars and where unsanitary conditions help spread the wild polio virus, Ed lives in Huntsville, MO, a city of cars and sanitary conditions. Yet, there is a link between the two because Ed, as a Rotarian, is making sure that the polio vaccine reaches children like Raveena’s by contributing to the Rotary Foundation. Ed believes in the process and wants to live up to Rotary’s #1 goal – eradicating polio from the world.”Shoes for SoulsThere is another project that Ed and the Huntsville Rotary believe strongly in — collecting shoes for the program Shoes for Orphan Souls. The Huntsville group is repeatedly held up to other clubs as an example of how to pull together time, effort and resources to help children in desolate parts of the world. The group purchased 360 pairs of new shoes last year to donate.Larry Lunsford, Macon, is a Rotary past district governor and the chairman for the Shoes for Orphan Souls Committee. Lunsford was on the truck that came through Moberly to pick up shoes from the Moberly and Huntsville clubs.“I personally worked with Ed as he led the Huntsville Club (and spurred the moberly Club) to collect new shoes for the Shoes for Orphan Souls efforts of our Rotary District,’ said Lunsford. “Ed was diligent in his Rotary service. He was a man who you could count on. Quiet, but strong leadership. His commitment made you want to have a stronger commitment yourself.”Huntsville RotaryEd worked to help children in his own neighborhood by serving on the Westran School Board and promoting educational programs. After 12 years on the board he decided it was time to let someone else take over. However, he had declared his candidacy to run for another term this spring.“He was a great ambassador for the school district and cared deeply about kids,” said Superintendent Dr. Kelly Shelby. “He not only served his local district he held different leadership roles in the Missouri School Boards Association at the state level.”Ed was also active in other civic and community activities but he will be best know for his Rotary work. He shall be buried wearing his Rotary tie.A plaque to honor Ed’s memory is in the making and the inscription will read, “The Huntsville Rotary Club was truly blessed to have Ed Kimbrough as part of our family. Ed’s unassuming leadership in our club and community, passionate commitment to Rotary, and tireless effort on behalf of youth not only provided us joy by being part of his countless accomplishment, but challenged us to be better Rotarians. Ed will be dearly missed by our club, but his example will be a guide to all of us in how to be an outstanding Rotarian and always keep “Service Above Self”.