Richard Reynolds Kimball, MD, 79, a long-time past resident of Mankato, died October 2, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The cause was cancer. Born February 27, 1945 in Evanston, Illinois, to Edward H. Kimball and Hazel Anderson Kimball, he was raised in Scarsdale, New York, graduated from the University of California, Riverside, and received his MD degree from George Washington University School of Medicine. After internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, he began medical practice in Mankato, Kansas.
During his 25 years there he delivered over 350 babies and, as a family practitioner, cared for the whole community. He was Chief of Staff at Jewell County Hospital. In addition to serving on the City Council he was active in Mankato Masonic Lodge 87 and further protected the community as a captain on the volunteer fire department.
"Doc K" moved to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, in 1998 where he continued as a family practice specialist for St. Mary's Health Systems. He was a volunteer engineer firefighter with Lake Ozark Fire Protection District and was the Medical Director for the fire department ambulance service. After retiring he moved to Oaklake Trails Naturist Park in Oklahoma.
An extremely warm, considerate, empathetic friend and deeply beloved uncle, his hobbies included being a commercial pilot of small planes. At age 40 he took up a new activity to insure that he would travel regularly outside the Midwest; he became an enthusiastic scuba diver with over 600 dives worldwide, the most recent last year.
He is survived by his sister, Susan Matisoff and brother-in-law, James A. Matisoff, Berkeley, California; his nieces, Sara Kimball and husband Ravi Sundarraj, Alamo, California, Nadja Matisoff, Oakland, California, Alexandra Matisoff-Li and husband Qiang Li, Kensington, California; three grand-nieces and nephews and two great-grand-nephews as well as his rescue dog, Sunny.
He was pre-deceased by brother, James Anderson Kimball.
He will be interred privately at Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina, Kansas.
Memorials may be sent to your local ASPCA chapter.
Melby Mortuary is assisting the Kimball family with arrangements.