Lillian Hoch Roberts Kimble

1933 - 2016

Lillian Hoch Roberts Kimble

February 11, 1933 - August 06, 2016

Visalia and Lake Tahoe

We commended our beloved Lilian Hoch Roberts Kimble to the love and compassion of Christ on August 6th 2016. Lilian was born in San Francisco on February 11th 1933 to Carl and Erna Hoch. Several years later her brother Peter joined the family. Lilian graduated from Lowell High School, and The San Francisco Lone Mountain College for Women, now a part of The University of San Francisco. As a city girl, Lilian enjoyed playing tennis, camping, hiking, water skiing at Donner Lake, snow skiing at Sugar Bowl, and fun times at Heidelmann Lodge on Donner Summit with The Nature Friends Tourist Club. At the age of 16, Lilian met her first prince charming, Percy Edward Roberts, Jr., on the slopes at Sugar Bowl, as members of the Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol. Lilian was an excellent skier, and wore the required long skirt while performing her ski patrol duties.

Three years later Lilian and Percy wed, in June of 1952, at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in San Francisco. They were blessed with "five wild Indians", Robert Edward, Pamela Joan (Mark Dickey), David Charles (Deborah), Sandra Elizabeth (Malcolm Dutch), and Jennifer Ann. Life was filled with smiles and adventure starting in San Francisco, later in Woodside, and then in Visalia.

Lilian's child raising years in Woodside were busy. She was a 4-H project leader for sewing and cooking, played tennis with her friends, had many long nights helping with school and 4-H projects, took part in local adult theater, and hosted parties at the pool. She also organized many family ski trips, summer car trips and a summer Tahoe vacation after the county fair.

The move to Visalia brought different activities. Lilian became a single engine pilot and together she and Percy flew in their Cessna to many places throughout the United States, including the World's Fair in New Orleans. Lilian enjoyed a competitive tennis league, joined the Children's Society, and kept in touch with her college friends, the "Little Club" through planned family excursion to places like Angel Island. After almost 35 years of marriage, her first love, Percy, was called back to God on December 7, 1986.

In 1990 Lilian was blessed to find a new love in Robert Kimble. They married in September 1991 at St. Clair's Catholic Mission Church in Three Rivers, California. This new chapter combined two families, and welcomed many grandchildren, until there were twenty in total. Lilian and Robert settled in Rubicon Bay on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. They enjoyed entertaining family and friends and hosting several summer camps, Camp Oma, for their grandchildren. As a couple they enjoyed a gourmet cooking group, skiing the slopes at Alpine Meadows and hiking the many trails around Lake Tahoe. They both enjoyed volunteering as docents for Living History Day at Sugar Pine Point and boating with their Sea Sport on Lake Tahoe and through the inland passage to Canada and Alaska. Their many adventures took them to more than 80 countries and all seven continents during their twenty-five years of marriage.

Their ideal day began with coffee on the "greet the morning" deck and ended with a splendid gourmet dinner. Dinner conversations were always lively as Lilian and Bob regaled their guests with their wonderful exploits and near misses with danger. Life at Tahoe was filled with summer and winter fun and adventure. Lilian was known as a gracious and charming hostess.

Lilian is survived by her beloved husband, Robert (Bob), and their combined family of ten children; Robert, Pam, David, Sandy, Jennifer, Joe, Barbara, Kathy, Martha, and Marie. Twenty grandchildren include Blake, Beach, Drew, Robbie, Carl, Amelia, Trevor, Gabriel, Madeleine, Celeste, Zane, Percy, Elisabetta, Marion, Brandon, Lindsay, Chase, William, Remington, and Paris. Great-grandchildren include, twins Jameson and Jax, and Miles. Lilian is also survived by her brother Peter (Linda) Hoch and many friends and extended family.

There will be a Celebration of Lilian's Life at Our Lady of the Wayside in Portola Valley on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 11 am.

As a tribute to Lilian we invite you to wear Lilian's favorite color, pink, by dressing in a pink outfit, or by adding a pink accessory or flower to your outfit.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Stanford Cancer Center, would be much appreciated. Donations may be made by using this link: http://med.stanford.edu/cancer/about/help

As a family, we give special thanks to Dr. George Fisher and his team for their many years of care and concern. Dr. Fisher and his team are wonderful, professional, and compassionate people. We would also like to recognize Dr. Kathy Renschler, who made an incredible difference in both Lilian and Bob's lives, and by extension our lives.