Aaron Don Kimball

When Don Kimball started school his mom, rushed to warn the staff he was coming. On November 8, 2022, Artie alerted heaven that Don was about to arrive and a multitude gathered to honor the humble man who rescued people, gave all that he had to those in need, lived by the motto, ‘It pays just as much to be nice,’ modeled love (except on the freeway), and definitely lived life his way. Born on the 29 of April, 1928 in Vernal, Utah, Don was welcomed into the arms of Eiron Ray and Artie Roberts Kimball. Two big brother, Ray and Irvin, and two big sisters, Velma and Donna, greeted him. Revella arrived later. Lucky for him when the Depression hit, his family ranched. Even when money was scarce, the family always had food. Don learned early that work was essential to survival and he never stopped working. At 7 he kept the steam water pump fed while tending the cows. At 13 he wired the town of Gusher for electricity. At 15 as WWII was raging, he joined the Navy, then discharged because he was color blind. At 16 he drove a US Mail truck, then worked in a coal mine. Drafted, he was assigned to the Air Force because he was color blind and assigned to Guam where he survived a record setting typhoon clinging to a coconut tree. Afterwards, he wired the base for electricity and communication lines. In Japan with the occupation forces, Don bunked with the ‘Auzzies’ and taught them to rebuild power lines. (It’s here the grandkids are shouting, “tell the story about stealing a train in Japan,” or jumping out of a runaway semi descending the Sierra Nevadas, or the wagon on top of the village center, or a hundred other escapades.) Returning home Don completed an electronics degree while working and living in Kansas City, returned to Utah and married Lorraine Price. They are the proud parents of Susan, Cindy, Jana, Jeff and Erin. Don always worked to improve his family’s circumstances. He drove truck, worked as an electrician, sold trucks, started Utah Truck Sales, and ended his career brokering heavy equipment. In 1983 his life unraveled. He lost his brother, his best friend, divorced, and his daughter, Erin, died in a horrific incident of domestic violence along with her two small children. The man whose single role had been to provide and protect was broken. A year later, he started to patch the wounds when he met, Susan ‘Sue’ Ellison, and was told they could only be friends because her kids wouldn’t let men in the house. And the romance began, with family dates, laughter, acceptance and more than a few shopping trips to the mall. Don and Sue married a year later and Don became the strong, gentle male presence Laurie, Shari, Kristy and Steven needed in their lives. Continuing to heal wounds, Don and Sue worked together to form the Erin Kimball Foundation, in St George. Working with community, donors and amazing staff they provided housing and support services to families fleeing violence. Don headed the effort to build Erin’s House to provide offices and space for support services as well as additional housing units. Erin’s House became his passion and he spent three years turning a long vacant structure into a nurturing space filled with light, beauty and love. When the Kimballs retired and the Foundation merged with the Dove Center, the Foundation had provided over 250,000 nights of safe shelter, and served over 600 families including at least 1500 children. Don is survived by his wife, Sue, daughters: Susan, Cindy (Buffalo), Jana (Randy), Laurie, Shari (Doug) and Kristy and sons: Jeff, Steven and Randy; 32 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren. Greeting him in heaven are his parents, Artie and E Ray, his daughter, Erin, and her children, Brittany and Joey, his beloved, high kicking granddaughter, Julia, her dad, Dick, his daughter-in-law, Adela, and his siblings. Donations in Don’s honor can be sent to the Dove Center, 1240 E., 100 S #221, St George, UT 84790, or a charity of your choosing. A casual, going away celebration is being held for Don on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at 11am, at Erin’s House in Washington, Utah. Please text Doug for directions (801) 699-0674.

Aaron Don Kimball

April 29, 1928 - November 8, 2022