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Richard Kimm
1938 - 2014
Richard Kimm
1938 - 2014
Obituary
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Richard Kimm Obituary
Gray Court
Richard Miles "Dick" Kimm (USNRet) son of Colonel Virgil Kimm (USA) and Margaret Furey Kimm, born at Fort Monroe, Virginia in 1938, died Sunday, September 7, 2014 at Richard Campbell Veterans' Nursing Home in Belton, SC following a long and brave struggle with Lewy Body Dementia. Kimm graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1959 with a degree in business administration, and immediately entered the US Navy, beginning his 50 year career in aviation. He was a Naval Aviator, serving 20 years. In the private sector, Mr. Kimm worked for Eastern Airlines, Atlantic Aviation, Flight Safety International, Page Avjet, Southern Jet Aviation, Pacific Jet Aviation at Clark Air Force Base in Papanga, Philippines, and Universal Weather and Aviation; His final billet was as a consultant to Air Service Hawaii, headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dick remained grounded at home with his border collies, his old cars, his tractor, his farm, his family and friends. Along with his wife, Karen, he was a founder of Phoenix Rising Border Collie Rescue of South Carolina. He was active in Simpsonville Rotary Club, managed a softball team in the Greenville Rec league, was an avid tennis player, the oldest lunchtime basketball player at the Greenville YMCA, and was a member of the American Legion and VFW. He is survived by his wife, Karen Baker, two daughters, Melissa of Fountain Inn, and Susan of Wilmington, Delaware, a son Michael of Clearwater, Florida, and stepson Sean Baker and his wife Janet, of Greenville, SC; four grandchildren, Patrick and Katie Kimm, and Trevor and Emily Gentry, and former wife, Patricia, of Bradenton Florida. Burial will be Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Individuals wishing to make a memorial may consider Phoenix Rising Border Collie Rescue (www.prbcr.org) or the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.lbda.org). No flowers, please.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Richard age 4
September 27, 2014
Jim Waugh
September 21, 2014
"Commander" is always the address I used in talking with Dick which was often everyday or sometimes several times a day during his tenure at our Wilmington Learning Center. Dick had a very positive and creative spirit driven by a will to serve others and was always full of ideas of how this or that seemingly impossible thing could be accomplished.
He was happiest making other people happy....and when it came to our customers sometimes, correction, many times, that meant stretching this or that policy. This occurred so many times that the phrase "Deal a day Kimm" was frequently heard in my office. Often our Chairman would call me into his office, then get Dick on the speakerphone, and proceed to go over some recent "Kimm deal" that was shall we say "creative." There would be much shouting back and forth concluding with some demonstrative four letter expressions spewing from our Chairman. Dick would always remain remarkably calm sometimes humble but always very positive in these verbal contests and in the end he and therefore his customer won the argument virtually every time. And that was good because many of his customers, although they might have had "creative" initiations into our service, once on-board, stayed with Dick and therefore us for many many years. His friends were loyal.
Probably his greatest gift to our company was his ability to spot and groom talent. Dick would call and say "Jimmie I just hired a young person that is going to be a great salesman for you. I will call you when I think he is ready." Or, "I just hired a person who is going to make a great Center Manager." Again, he would say, I will call you when I think they are ready.
Over and over again and again, he would recruit, hire and train great people who went on to other roles in the company or filled key positions in his Center. He was always very proud of "his people." And well he should have been proud because there were many success stories. In fact out of over 40 training centers it is hard to come up with someone who topped Dick's string of placing "his people" in his Center and throughout our system.
But his biggest thrill of all I believe was softball. He was really really into it. Many years ago on a visit to his Learning Center, I asked some questions about a particular new hire because I was not aware that that there was an open position....Questions like what does he do? Is he any good? You know general questions. Dick became very quiet. I said what was the problem. He said, "Can you keep a secret?" Okay Dick what is it? He said, "Well, you see we have a softball team and that guy is the best person in the league in his position and we were weak in that position." All of this followed quickly by "I believe he will also make a good performance instructor once he finishes his training." You just had to bite your tongue. But "his teams" be they in softball or aviation were always winners and "his people" very loyal to him.
In his later years, he was so happy to have met and married you, Karen. During our calls he would always tell me how great you were and how much he enjoyed being with you and being involved with rescuing and nurturing the Border Collies. He was truly happy.
The Commander was very special and truly one of a kind. In fact, I imagine he at this very moment is cutting some kind of deal with our Higher Power above about stretching this or that understanding to make a better deal on something. We will all miss him.
Jim Waugh, Flight Safety International
Dry Tortugas 2010
September 21, 2014
Richard (kneeling with dog) at the Romans Club 1954
September 21, 2014
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Richard driving his 63 Galaxy 500
September 21, 2014
Paul and Marilyn Dunphy
September 19, 2014
REMEMBERANCES OF OUR DEAR FRIEND, DICK KIMM FROM PAUL AND MARILYN DUNPHY
DICK AND PAUL MET IN HIGH SCHOOL - LASALLE ACADEMY IN PROVIDENCE, RI AND BECAME FAST FRIENDS WITH A GROUP OF LIKE-MINDED BUDDIES- DON LENDRY, GEORGE BROWN AND TONY MARANDOLA. TO THIS DAY, THE GROUP STILL KEEPS IN TOUCH. PAUL'S LAST CONVERSATION WITH DICK WAS JUST BEFORE HE BECAME VERY SICK.
MARILYN FIRST MET DICK WHEN DICK AND DON LENDRY OFFERED TO DRIVE PAUL AND MARILYN TO THE MOVIES ON THEIR SECOND DATE. FOR SOME REASON, PAUL DID NOT HAVE "WHEELS" THAT NIGHT AND SO HIS GOOD BUDDIES OFFERED TO DRIVE THEM. THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD PLAY A TRICK ON PAUL - AND SO WHEN THEY PICKED UP MARILYN AT HER HOUSE, THEY HAD A WINE BOTTLE WITH THEM AND ACTED DRUNK. OF COURSE, THEY WERE NOT, BUT MARILYN WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH PAUL'S FRIENDS AND TOLD HIM SO. FORTUNATELY, SHE AGREED TO DATE PAUL AGAIN AND SO GOT TO KNOW DICK AND LOVED HIS SENSE OF HUMOR. MANY GOOD TIMES WERE HAD AT DICK'S "CLUB" A LITTLE SHACK IN THE BACK OF HIS HOUSE IN JOHNSTON,RI, WHERE DICK HOSTED MANY PARTIES FOR HIS FRIENDS.
WE REMEMBER ONE SUMMER PICNIC THAT DICK PLANNED. A GROUP OF US WENT TO A NEARBY LAKE IN THE WOODS WHERE DICK WAS GOING TO GRILL CHICKEN. BECAUSE DICK FORGOT THE FLUID TO PUT ON THE CHARCOAL, IT TOOK MANY TRIES TO START THE FIRE IN THE GRILL. DICK WAS IN CHARGE OF COOKING THE CHICKEN BUT DIDN'T REALIZE THAT COOKING RAW CHICKEN TOOK MUCH LONGER THAN COOKING A HAMBURG. IN HIS INIMITABLE STYLE - HE ASSURED THE REST OF US THAT HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. THE OUTCOME WAS CHICKEN ONLY PARTIALLY COOKED WITH THE STARVING ATTENDEES STANDING AROUND WAITING TO EAT. WE NEVER DID EAT THE CHICKEN AND DICK WAS TEASED FOREVER ABOUT THAT DEBACLE.
DICK WAS ALWAYS A LOVABLE, HUMOROUS, KINDHEARTED PERSON. HE MADE GETTING TOGETHER SO MUCH FUN WITH ALWAYS A PLAN TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. HE KEPT US LAUGHING FOR MANY YEARS. WE CERTAINLY MISSED HIM WHEN COLLEGE WAS OVER AND HE ENTERED THE NAVY. THE GANG ALL WENT IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND WE DIDN'T SEE EACH OTHER OFTEN FOR MANY YEARS. LUCKILY, WE CONNECTED ONCE AGAIN IN LATER YEARS AND RE-LIVED OUR MANY OLD TIMES TOGETHER, MUCH TO KAREN'S CONSTERNATION, WE ARE SURE LISTENING TO THE SAME STORIES OVER AND OVER.
WE WILL CERTAINLY MISS OUR OLD FRIEND AS WE SAY A SAD GOODBYE.
Rob Morris
September 19, 2014
Dick Kimm assisted me in the transition to a new job here in Hawaii. He was already here on an interim basis restructuring Air Service Hawaii and in a short period had done a lot of work. However, what impressed me the most about Dick was how much he liked people and people liked him. There was nobody that he could not talk to. Before you knew it, he had made friends and knew many details of people's lives. In my first few weeks here in Hawaii we travelled to the different islands and he introduced me to the Airport Manager in each station. Every time we walked in to these meetings he would tell the person at the front desk that he was there for a job interview. The receptionist would look at us with a puzzled look and say that she was not aware of any job openings. Dick would then proceed to tell her that he was there to interview for the job of Airport Manager because they have nice offices, an easy job, drink coffee, attend a few meetings and drive around the airport having a good time. We would all have a good laugh and before you knew it Dick had established great rapport with everyone at the Airport Managers office. To this day I have a good relationship with Airport Management thanks to Dick.
Carol Pyfrom
September 11, 2014
I loved Dick - he was such and interesting and amazing person...such a big heart...I will miss you Richard! My thoughts and prayers are with the family .....
Kathy Kazimierski
September 10, 2014
Melissa, as difficult as your Dad's journey has been and how hard it is to lose someone this close, I hope your cherished memories of happier times with him will soon be foremost in your thoughts when you think of him. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Jim Cannon
September 10, 2014
I am very sorry to learn of Dick's passing. Our friendship began in the mid 80's when we were both in the Business Aviation Industry. It was always great to see him at events held during the subsequent years. We also shared the brotherhood of being Naval Aviators. My condolences to your family and friends.
Steve Patewood
September 10, 2014
There will be an evening of remembrance, food, drink, laughter and tears at the runway cafe at the Greenville Downtown Airport on Sunday, September 14 from 3-7. If you want to share a story or just drop by, please feel free to come. The cafe is at 21 Airport Rd Ext Greenville, SC 29607.
Pam Williams, RN
September 9, 2014
Karen, my thoughts are with you.
I will keep you in my prayers.
Dennis Waldrop
September 9, 2014
I am very sorry to hear of the death of my friend, Dick. He was always a very interesting and friendly guy to be around. He was one of the most active members of the Simpsonville Rotary Club.
I wish the family comfort and strength during this time of grieving. May God grant you peace.
Gail Stokes
September 9, 2014
You are in my prayers.
With love
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