Obituary of George Wellington Kimbro, Jr.

George Wellington Kimbro, Jr. was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan on June 12, 1953.  He was one of two children born from the union of George Wellington Kimbro, Sr. and Henrietta Garnet Busic.  At a young age, the Kimbro family moved to Monroe County.  George attended Jefferson Schools where being very athletic, he participated in basketball and was a successful cross-country runner.  He graduated with the Class of 1971.

In June 1974, he married Jacalyn Souva.  The couple was soon blessed with two sons:  Andrew and Matthew.  For several years George provided for his family with employment at Guardian Glass.  He then took a position with Jefferson Schools as a Custodian.  He retired from the school system after 30 years of dedicated service. 

George was well known for his generosity and willingness to lend a helping hand.  More so, he was a well-loved and respected Coach by players and parents for decades.  From the joy of coaching his own boys in baseball to the thrill of managing Summer League ball and being the Jefferson Middle School Coach, youth baseball was a passion.  He even experienced the joy of Andrew serving as his assistant coach for a few years.  His 1994, Frenchtown Fair Team won the tournament and went undefeated.

George married the former, Gayle Marie Liedel at the Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo, Ohio on June 9, 2003. 

George stayed active all his life.  He often visited the Jefferson Recreation Center to play basketball or walk the track.  He also had played basketball weekly at Grace Lutheran Church for many years.  When he wasn’t playing sports, he was watching them on television.  George played a lot of golf throughout the years, even achieving the coveted hole-in-one.  He enjoyed table tennis and regular tennis as well.  It seemed that George was good at everything he did.  Of all things in his life, George adored his grandsons the most and loved sharing time with them.

George Wellington Kimbro, Jr., age 71 of Monroe passed away at 10:20pm on Wednesday; July 3, 2024, at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital after a brief illness.  His passing was preceded by his parents and his first wife: Jacalyn.

To cherish his memory, he leaves his beloved wife of twenty-three years: Gayle Marie Kimbro of Monroe; two sons: Andrew (Jessica) Kimbro of Monroe and Matthew (Jessica) Kimbro of Belleville; a sister: Becky (Bill) Barber of Escondido, California; and four grandsons: Evan Kimbro, Nolan Kimbro, Lawson Kimbro, and Joshua Kimbro, born the day he passed away.

Friends may gather from 2:00pm until 5:00pm on Thursday; July 11, 2024 at Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185.  A Celebration of His Life will follow at 5:00pm also at Merkle’s. Cremation will take place through Covenant Cremation of Erie, Michigan, a division of Merke Enterprises, Inc.  Private burial of his cremated remains will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Monroe.

Memorial contributions for those who desire are suggested to Friends of Companion Animals or Monroe County Humane Society.  Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.