Obituary: KIMBALL, JAMES

James L. Kimball, Jr.1932 ~ 2012James LeRoy Kimball, Jr., 80, Salt Lake City, died on August 26, 2012, after a lingering illness. Jim was born in Salt Lake City on January 1, 1932, to Dr. J. LeRoy Kimball and Marjorie Dahlen Kimball. He spent most of his youth in Salt Lake City, with a brief period spent in New Orleans, Louisiana while his father pursued a fellowship at Tulane University. Jim graduated from Salt Lake's East High School. He then served as an LDS missionary in the British Mission, an experience which fed a lifelong love of all things British. Upon his return, he studied at Brigham Young University, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Utah, where he earned his B.S. in history. Beginning in 1954, when his father purchased the Heber C. Kimball home in Nauvoo, Illinois, Jim spent a great deal of time researching and writing about the Mormon experience in Nauvoo. His knowledge of LDS history in Nauvooand his love for the place and its peoplewere unsurpassed. He enjoyed nothing better than teaching others about Nauvoo and its history. While working on a historical restoration project at the Nauvoo Temple site, Jim met Joan Hunt and they were married on June 7, 1963, in the Salt Lake Temple. Following their marriage, Jim pursued graduate training in history at the University of Iowa where he wrote his thesis about the Nauvoo Charter. Jim started his professional career teaching in the Seminary and Institute programs of the LDS church, including stints at West High (Salt Lake City), Oregon State University, and the University of Washington. In 1975, Jim moved to the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he worked for more than 25 years as a librarian, archivist, and supervisor of the Archives Search Room. He took great pleasure in assisting the many historians and researchers who became colleagues and close friends. For many years, he taught courses in Utah history, religious history, and Mormonism at the BYU-Salt Lake Center. Memories of his open-mindedness, warm personality, and wonderful sense of humor are cherished by his co-workers and former students. Jim was a faithful member of the LDS Church and served in a variety of capacities throughout his life. A legendary Gospel Doctrine teacher, Jim enjoyed studying for the lesson almost as much as teaching it on Sunday. Following his retirement, Jim and Joan served an inner-city mission in Salt Lake where they made numerous new friends.Jim is survived by wife Joan (Salt Lake City); children Melissa Kimball Gardner (Mark), Salt Lake City; James L. Kimball III (Mary), Salt Lake City; Richard I. Kimball (Suzanne), Mapleton; Mark C. Kimball (Kirsti), Salt Lake City; and Amy Kimball Caro (Carlos), Atlanta, Georgia; 20 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; siblings John Kimball (Julie); Marian Dunn (Gary); Mitzie Bigelow (Chris); William O. Kimball (Robin); and sister-in-law Lorna Kimball. Preceded in death by parents and brother David G. Kimball. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, September 1, at 11 am (viewing one hour prior), at the Brighton Fifth Ward, located at 7600 South and 2300 East, Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held on Friday, August 31, from 6 to 8 pm, at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City.