Dr. James Henry Kimbell passed away on December 11, 2010, at home with his family, of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. James Henry was born in Birmingham, AL on September 1, 1918. He played football in high school and was popular with both the girls and the boys. After high school he attended Mississippi State College earning a B.S. in Biology before becoming a Navy officer in W.W. II. During the war he met his wife of 52 years, Anne. They were married in San Francisco in 1946 and then moved to New Orleans where Jim studied at Tulane Medical School, graduating in 1950. He interned at Santa Clara County Hospital and did a residency in San Mateo before coming to Vacaville in 1952. He and his partners Dr. John Saltsman and Dr. Donald Wyrens were the only physicians in Vacaville for many years. There are many families in Vacaville who remember him as a caring and gentle doctor. Many people who are now grandparents themselves were babies delivered by Dr. Kimbell. At the end of the 1960s, Dr. Kimbell became one of the first contracting emergency room physicians in California at American River Hospital in Carmichael, CA. In the early 1980s, he retired from practice and devoted himself to his grandchildren whom
he loved with all his heart.
Dr. Kimbell is survived by his children Beth Marchio (Jim) and Keith Kimbell (Robertlyn), by his five grandchildren Brandon, Brooke, Devin, and Chanel Kimbell and Anne Marchio. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren and his beloved friend Barbara Brawley. He leaves behind a great many friends and patients who shared his laughter and stories and will miss him sorely. Good bye Dad, and yes, it is indeed Five OClock Somewhere!
There will be a Celebration of Jims life at some future date. The family requests remembrances be made to charities of your choice and would especially appreciate any contributions to Kaiser Hospice who were so wonderful during Dr. Kimbells last days.
