William "Bill" Dale Kimbley

Services for Mr. William Dale Kimbley, 88, of Gladewater will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Gladewater with Reverend Dick Dobbins officiating under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater. Burial will follow at Gladewater Memorial Park. Mr. Kimbley passed away, Friday, December 4, 2015 at home his home in Gladewater with his family at his side. He was born May 20, 1927 in Dewey, Oklahoma, the son of William Earl and Ethel (Byrd) Kimbley. He grew up on the family homestead and went to the local Hillsdale School and later attended and graduated from Dewey High School. He joined the United States Navy during World War II, serving on the USS Mount McKinley. He was a retired barber and co-owner of Moody's Barber Shop in Pine Tree. He was known as Mr. Bill to generations of young customers. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gladewater, serving as an usher for many years. He was a quiet man, slow to anger and quick to forgive. He found humor in the mundane, maintaining his sense of humor to the last of his life. He saw the best in his fellow man and in circumstances some would see as bleak. He was an outdoor man, enjoying working on his land and yard. He was a genuinely contented man, grateful for what he had. He loved the Lord. He led each of his children to God through his daily example. To say he loved his family is an understatement. He was proud of each accomplishment of his children and grandchildren and quickly forgot each failure. He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Carolyn Kimbley of Gladewater, daughters Cheryl Tsutsumi of Wainae, Hawaii and Sandy Searle of Gladewater; eight grandchildren, Jaime Council, Luke and Alisha Kimbley, Shannon and Richard Sisk, Tim and Christy Cavel, Allison and Zach Greenwood, Kimberly and Philip Dean, Ryan and Samantha Searle and Casey and Lindsey Searle; 23 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, two great-great granddaughters and one brother, Carl D. Kimbley of El Paso, Texas. He is preceded in death by his wife, Helen Jeanette (Jan) Kimbley, three brothers, Ralph, Harold and Burl, two sisters, Betty Kimbley and Geneva Burkart and one granddaughter, Karrie Phelan. The family would like to thank Dr. Lawrence Roe and Dr. Neeraj Sharma for their years of compassionate care. Thank you also to Mrs. Betty Erickson and Mrs. Gladys Witt for the years of tender care in Dad's home. There will be no formal visitation hours at the funeral home for Mr. Kimbley.