Submitted by Susan Audy, November 8, 2006
© Susan Audy
Ira C. Kimball, well known to people of Fort Collins thru his work at Kimball's Gardens, east of the city, died at 4 o'clock Friday afternoon at the home of his son, R.D. Kimball, at the age of 91 years. His death was not expected, altho his health had been poor for several years. Besides his son, Mr. Kimball is survived by two daughters, Mrs. J.R. Kinghorn and Mrs. Carrie Johnson, both of Fort Collins; by three sisters, Mrs. J.W. Thompson, Minot, N.D.; Mrs. Floyd Ennis, Cedar Rapids, Ia, and Mrs. J.S. Doyle, Baldwin Park, Calif.; by nine grandchildren, Glenn Kinghorn of Fort Collins; Mrs. Ralph Cummings, Windsor; Mrs. Bessie Barker, Marshall B. Johnson, Harold B. Johnson, Miss Esther Kimball, Miss Doris Kimball, Roy Kimball, Jr., and Beth Elaine Kimball, all of Fort Collins, besides five great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Day Funeral home with the Rev. Harry G. Parsons of the Christian Church officiating. The Masons will be in charge of the services at the grave, burial being at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Kimball was a native of Stowe, Vt., born Nov. 14, 1840, the eldest of eleven children. At 12 years of age, he, with his parents and several other families, moved after a short residence in New York state by wagon train to Iowa, where his father homesteaded near Cedar Rapids. He was married on March 28, 1867, to Cornelia Marshall at Shellsburg, Ia. He farmed in Iowa several years, later moving to Missouri, where he lived for about four years. During this time Mrs. Kimball died, and the family later moved to McCook, Nebr. In 1901 Mr. Kimball moved to Fort Collins, and since that time has been in the gardening business with his son. It was at the gardens that many people came to know and respect him. He gave away a great deal of produce rather than sell it to his friends who came there. Mr. Kimball had been a Mason for 68 years. He was raised to the rank of master Mason in 1863. About ten years ago he was made a life member of the Masonic lodge of McCook, Nebr. Died: 4 Dec 1931 - Ft. Collins, Colorado
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