Joseph W. Kimmel

Joseph W. Kimmel Age 91, of Villanova, died on Tuesday, January 22 at home after a long fight with congestive heart failure. His wife of nearly seventy years, Betty (Elizabeth Blackburn) was by his side. Father of James (Jim) of Atlanta, GA and Highlands, NC and the late Jonathan (Jon) of Berwyn, and grandfather of Jon and Suzan Egan (Kimmel) Fluke's twin boys, Jamie and Jon of New York and Pittsburgh, PA. Joe was born on December 18, 1921 in Toledo, Ohio to Morris Schrock (M.S.) and Etta DeHaven Kimmel. He had an adopted sister, Jean, who predeceased him by two decades. The family moved to Pittsburgh and Joe graduated from The Arnold School (Shadyside Academy) in 1940, before enrolling in Swarthmore College with the class of '44. With the outbreak of World War II he participated in the U.S. Navy V-12 program, graduating with the class of 1943. It was in a Great Books class at Swarthmore (the Quaker Matchbox) that he met his future bride, Betty Blackburn of South Philadelphia. Joe was a member of the Navy's elite UDT (Underwater Demolition Team, precursor to the SEALS), and later the Amphibious Forces serving in the Pacific Theatre. Returning to Pittsburgh after the war, Joe joined Gulf Oil before moving the family to Radnor in the 1950's where he was employed in several large industrial companies in oil, steel and paper. He joined Edward N. Hay & Associates in the mid 1960's providing compensation consulting to major corporations as well as local, state and federal governments and agencies, including a complete overhaul of the US Postal System, the first ever attempted. Joe was active in consulting after Hay in various capacities as recently as 10 years ago. On his own and out of his concern for frequent SUV rollovers, he developed and published the K-Index, a predictor of this incidence, much to the consternation of the auto industry. Within two years, the industry fixed the problem. Joe's real passion was all things Radnor, beginning with Little League and head of umpires, Cub Scouts and Scout Master for the then new Troop 499 in Ithan, and his successful election to township commissioner as a member of the "New Look" Republicans in the mid 1960's. He continued to be very active in Radnor politics through his acerbic writings and pointed participation in township and school board meetings. He was the decades long author of the local column "Political Potpourri" and TV show by the same name, interviewing local as well as national figures. Joe never met a debate (some would say confrontation) that he didn't relish. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2 at 2:00 PM at Radnor Friends Meeting, 610 Conestoga Road (Conestoga & Sproul), Villanova, PA 19085. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Joseph Kimmel's name to: Radnor Friends Meeting, PO Box 1382, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.