Raymond H. Kimball

PAXTON - Raymond H. Kimball, Sr., 91, of 643 Pleasant Street, died after a brief illness on Thursday, March 6, 2008, in the Jewish Healthcare Center in Worcester.

He leaves his wife of 76 years, Virginia (Ward) Kimball; two sons, Kim Kimball of Napa, California and Miles Kimball of Paxton; a daughter, Rosemary Carbonelli and her husband Tony of Sarasota, Florida; four grandchildren, Todd, Lee, Kristy, and Courtney; a sister, Charlotte Lovejoy of Worcester; and fifteen nieces and nephews. His sisters, Jessica Chase and Ruth Quartana, predeceased him.

Ray graduated from Rutland High School and Worcester Junior College. He retired after 36 years as a Foreman at Norton Company and in 1970, was awarded the Heinrich Award for "Outstanding National Supervisor of the Year". He invented several processes for which Norton Company received patterns including one that made major savings reclaiming industrial diamond waste and is still in use today.

Ray was as a long time volunteer firefighter in both Rutland and Paxton and served as a Deputy Fire Chief in Paxton for 29 years. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Paxton for 59 years where he served as a Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Religious Education Committee member, PF Leader and Choir member. He was also a member of Rufus Putnam Lodge of Masons in Rutland for 71 years, a Boy Scout Leader in Paxton, and Past Curator for the Rutland Historical Society and the Rutland Finnish Society.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15th, in the First Congregational Church of Rutland, 264 Main Street, Rutland. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Paxton Firefighter's Association, First Responders, 576 Pleasant Street, Paxton, MA 01612; or the First Congregational Church of Paxton, 1 Church Street, Paxton, MA 01612. Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden is directing arrangements.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com