Kimball R. Woodbury

Kimball R. Woodbury, 98, of Worcester, died peacefully on Monday, July 25, 2022, at the Knollwood Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Worcester and is survived by his two sons, David K. Woodbury and his wife Susan of Worcester, Peter H. Woodbury and his wife Sharon of West Boylston; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth (Betty) of 64 years in 2010, his parents Harold D. and Esther K. Woodbury, and his sister Priscilla W. Watson.

Kim attended Worcester Public Schools and graduated from Worcester Academy in 1940. He was a member of the Class of 1944 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and in his junior year, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps Weather Service and had duty assignments in Hawaii and on Tarawa Atoll in the Pacific Theater as a weather forecaster. When he returned from active duty in 1946, he married the former Elizabeth A. Hall in June 1946 and returned to WPI to finish his studies. He graduated in 1948 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was proud to be part of the WPI community.

He was an active member of The First Baptist Church, Worcester, for over 80 years, where he contributed his time, talent and wisdom to many committees and, in particular, the Finance Committee. Kim also volunteered at many community organizations over the years. His most important relationship was with the YMCA of Central Massachusetts. He joined its Board of Directors in 1962, served as Board Chair from 1970-1972, and was a 50-year Board Member when he "graduated" and became an active member of its Advisory Board - a position that he held at the time of his passing. His gifts as a volunteer mattered to many.

Kim was a Trustee of The Memorial Hospital, the United Way of Central Massachusetts and spent many years as a member of the Boylston Finance Committee. Selfless community service was at Kim's core. He was also an elected member of the Worcester Public School Committee in the early 1950s. He always said that the greater Worcester community had been very good to him and his family, and as such, he felt a duty to give back.

He joined the family business after graduating from WPI - Woodbury and Company, Incorporated, a designer and producer of high-quality engraved stationery products - and served as its President for many years until his retirement. Being a third-generation member of the family's ownership, he treasured the relationships with the entire employee group. He wanted to give each employee an opportunity to succeed, each day, and to be part of a team with a family spirit, and to have a hand in producing an important product. Many of those in the Woodbury group also spent their entire working careers with the company.

Kim and Betty enjoyed their 60 summers at their small cottage on Mount Desert Island, Maine. It is a place of magnificent beauty with peaceful surroundings. It is where their kids, grandkids, and now great-grandkids spend time each summer enjoying all that it has to offer. Kim was an active skier, mountain climber, tennis player and lawn mower. Spending time with family was very important to him as he was exceedingly proud of each member and their achievements.

Kim lived a long and full life. He is best remembered for his smile, his encyclopedic memory, organizational skills and his kind and thoughtful approach to life. His life embodied the motto of Rotary International "Service Above Self" where he put the needs of others above his own. There will be a Celebration of Kim's Life to be held at the First Baptist Church, 111 Park Avenue, Worcester, on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 11:00 AM. The family requests that flowers be omitted and that memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, 766 Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610.

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