Kimball, Robert D.

March 19, 1916 - August 7, 1977

Oakland Tribune 

August 9, 1977

Robert D. Kimball, for 12: years the manager of The Oakland Tribune's transportation department, died Sunday in Santa Rosa hospital. He was 61.

Mr. Kimball was taken ill six weeks ago at a second home he and his wife Phyllis maintain outside of' Cloverdale where, for the past "few years, they have been developing a vineyard. 

Born in Merced, March 19, 1916 Mr. Kimball was 1934 graduate of Sonora Union High School. Before coming to work for The Tribune in 1940, Mr. Kimball worked in fire control for the U.S. Forest Service. He served in the U.S. Navy for three years during World War II.

In 1946, he returned to the paper and was put in charge of street sales, then promoted to home-delivery manager. In 1965 he was named head of the transportation department and its 30-person staff. He was a dedicated employee, said circulation manager William Ortman. "Bob was always quietly helpful to whoever approached him, he said. He was a lovely, unassuming person. We will all miss him. Mr. Kimball was a resident of Berkeley and a longtime member of the Berkeley Elks Club. His survivors include his wife, Phyllis, a son, Jack Kimball, of Cloverdale, -and a grandson, Robert D. Kimball II. Funeral services will be held on the grounds of the Italian Swiss Colony Winery in Asti at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Gene Jennings adds:   Robert" Bob" Kimball handled (District 265) the El Sobrante, San Pablo, etc area for many years when it was a dealership (seven day operation). Bill Lewis was my D.A at that time and then for a period Bob took Pinole over and he was my D.A..  Bob had this before any management jobs with the Tribune.  I use to run Bill's District 222 after I got my drivers license when he went on vacation.