Gary Kimble
Born in Pennsylvania on March 9, 1939 he spent time in San Bernardino before settling in Costa Mesa where he lived in the same apartment on Merrimac for over 40 years. He cherished this city, he made loads of friends here, worked locally, and he considered it his true home.
As a young man, Gary enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Homestead, Florida where he became an Air Force swim coach. He was good at it and brought his skills to swim teams in the area and was proud of the students who became Olympic champions. He taught PE and American History at Carden Christian School here in Costa Mesa while coaching swim teams and also earning a part-time degree in architecture from Cal State Fullerton.
Gary’s life passions were racing midget cars, coaching, and most of all trains. He and friends would chase trains all over the Mojave Desert, through Tehachapi and on to Bakersfield. He loved to sit at the outdoor café at Fullerton station and watch the freight and passenger trains as they came and went throughout the day…to him it was like being a kid on Christmas Day! Trains truly were his greatest passion. In addition to OCME, he was also a 25-year member of Del Oro Pacific Railroad, a modular train club which you may have seen at Winterfest. They had a huge operating g-scale layout in the hangar for a number years and built the outdoor operating trains at last years’ festival of lights.
Gary Kimble was larger than life, a true friend to everyone and a mainstay of the Orange County Model Engineers where his greatest joy was running birthday trains for the little ones. He collected their smiles and relished in the excitement they exuded on his train. Always the teacher, he patiently explained all the parts of the train, how they worked, and why they were there. Even as his hearing and eyesight deteriorated he offered his wisdom to become the clubs Training Coordinator. He insured that all new members were thoroughly trained in the safe operation of the equipment and that no one, I mean NO ONE operated a train without his personal certification. His name was synonymous with safety…… all for the kids
We hope to name a section of the Goat Hill Junction Railroad in your honor, Gary, and we are grateful that the city will acknowledge you here tonight. I know you would consider this to be your life’s greatest honor.
You will be sorely missed my friend.