Garnetta C Kimble

Garnetta Carroll Kimble passed peacefully at Wynwood House Personal Care Home in State College on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at the age of 90. She was born at home on May 8, 1935 in West Enola, PA. She was the daughter of the late Joseph & Sarah (Derick) Wolaver and the fifth of 12 siblings. At one point she lived in "rural" Blackwell, PA with no running water and had to haul water from the stream down over the mountain. She did not have an easy childhood. She graduated from Liberty Joint HS, in 1953. Upon graduation, she worked for Central Bank in Harrisburg, PA for two years and went on to work at Howard Johnson's for another two years as an Assistant Manager. Enormously independent, Garnetta added a year to her age in order to move into her own apartment and support herself financially at the tender age of 17. She promptly forgot this minor indiscretion until she applied for Social Security, 4 decades later, and was hilariously reminded that she needed to wait another year to legally apply. Since no one could spell or pronounce her unusual name, Garnetta was known as Garnie to friends and family.

Garnie married Robert "Bob" Kimble on December 1, 1957 at Friedens Lutheran Church in Liberty. They were married for 64 years until Bob's passing in 2022. Garnie and Bob raised 4 children, including a set of fraternal twins, which was highly unusual in the 1960's. Garnie credits two neighbors, Ruth Wells and Mabel Garbrick, with allowing all of their children to survive into adulthood by offering much needed assistance. Little did she know that Ruth actually helped the teenagers clean up "debris" from a party they hosted at the house in Zion while she and Bob were in New Orleans attending a School Board Conference. One might question the decision to leave 4 teenagers home alone for an entire weekend.

While home with children for 20 years, Garnie was active in her community volunteering at Zion United Church of Christ, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and was a past Matron of the former Bellefonte Order of the Eastern Star. Garnie was an excellent cook and baker, known specifically for her homemade pie dough and scratch fillings. Family happily requested specific pies and cookies for visits. Garnie had a large garden and made the most of it by canning and freezing produce at a furious rate. She had lots of hands in house who were voluntold to help, and when a complaint arose, would respond by saying "you will thank me in January when you are eating fresh peaches." She wasn't wrong. She did have a particular dislike for chipmunks and groundhogs who were thieves in her garden and we'll just leave it at that.

With children almost grown, Garnetta went back to work in 1981 at Penn State as the manager of the East Halls Bookstore. She enjoyed working with the students and the autonomy of her own space, but did not enjoy the Barnes and Nobel takeover and promptly retired shortly thereafter in 1995. Retirement meant snow birding in a camper for 4 months in the Florida sunshine where she could read, mostly historical fiction, go for walks and craft to her hearts content. She loved socializing with her Red Hat Ladies and took many bus trips with friends. A favorite trip was to Berkley Springs, WV for all the spa treatments. Garnetta attended Grange Fair for decades, including a camper spot. She couldn't wait for the funnel cakes, "visiting" with neighbors and watching family members show animals… mostly horses & pigs, with an occasional steer.

Garnetta is survived by 3 children; Larry Kimble of Bellefonte, PA, Kathy (Brad) Eckley of Columbia, MD and Robb (Lea Ann) Kimble of Howard, PA. Six Grandchildren; Paige Eckley, Evan (Laura) Eckley, Ethan Eckley, Zack (Katie) Kimble, Ryan Kimble and Kayla Kimble. Five Great Grandchildren; Braylen, Clementine, Ellie, Nora & Violet. Also surviving are 3 sisters; Wanda Wolaver, Judith (Palmer) Shelley and Suzanne (Richard) Peirce, all of Enola, PA.

Garnetta was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Kimble and son, Scott Kimble, along with 8 siblings; Clinton Wolaver, Joseph Wolaver, Jr., Romaine Shellenberger, Charles Wolaver, Ronald Wolaver, Gilbert Wolaver, Linda Raker and George Wolaver.

There will be no public services. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

Centre County 4-H Endowment: Electronic Donation Link or though the funeral home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC 121 W. Main St. Lock Haven, Pa 17745.

Thoughts and memories can be made at the Gedon Funeral Homes Facebook Page or www.GedonFuneralHomes.com