Martha F. Kimberlin

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Martha F. (Bumby) Kimberlin, 96, passed away in Harrisonville, Missouri on January 14, 2013.
Martha was born March 6, 1916 in Orlando, Florida, the daughter of Joseph F. and Ethel C. Bumby. Both of her paternal and maternal grandparents were early settlers of Orlando. Her grandfather was an early Mayor.
Martha loved to regale her family with stories of her early childhood and early adult years in then rustic central Florida. Quite the athlete and sportswoman, she participated in a wide variety of sports, hunting and fishing with family and other members at Tosohatchee, a private game preserve, and entertaining friends at the Windemere, Florida lake house called “Butler Camp”, as well as spending fun-filled days at Daytona Beach.
Martha graduated from Orlando High School, and then attended Stetson University, and later a business college before joining the family business, Joseph Bumby Hardware.
She met her husband, William M. Kimberlin, on the dance floor of the Officer’s Club while he was stationed at the Orlando Army Air Force Base during World War II. They were married on January 9, 1946 in Orlando, Florida. They settled in Harrisonville that January which was Martha’s first experience with snow. Harrisonville has been her home for 67 years, but she always relished return visits to her beloved Florida.
Martha was very active in the community as a member of DAR, the Cass County Historical Society, Cass County Medical Center Auxiliary, and Delvers. She performed various voluntary services including serving as a member of the first American Red Cross Gray Ladies at Cass Memorial Hospital, and later served as a Pink Lady. She was the long time treasurer of the Orient Cemetery Association. Martha served selflessly on many committees and organizations throughout her life. She was a person of faith and enjoyed the fellowship as a member of the First Christian Church of Harrisonville.
Martha was a wise businesswoman, an independent thinker, a great storyteller, and a loyal friend.
With her 12-year background in the family hardware business, she had an impressive knowledge of tools, hardware and their uses. If anything needed fixing or repairing around the house, she acted as the plumber, electrician, or carpenter.
Martha had a wide variety of interests. She was an avid golfer and was a charter member of the Twin Pines Country Club. She and her husband, Bill, enjoyed many golf vacations playing courses throughout the country. She loved ballroom dancing and listening to Big Band music. She invested in real estate, played the Stock Market, worked crossword puzzles, enjoyed sewing and crafting, and then there was bridge. For over 75 years, Martha delighted in a good game of bridge. She played into her early 90’s and treasured her “bridge buddies”. Martha was fascinated by technology, and she loved gadgets. She decided that she wanted to play the organ; she bought one and drove weekly to Kansas City to take lessons. Martha loved cars. She liked to talk and read about cars. She could tell you about every car she ever owned… her favorite was the “green hornet”, a late 1930’s Ford convertible. She bought a video game system and challenged her granddaughters at Super Mario Brothers. Martha was a dynamic person full of fun and a joy to be with.
Martha loved animals, and she always had pets. There was always a dog, usually a Jack Russell terrier, and the occasional cat, but as a youth she also had a monkey and an orphaned baby wild boar. Her current pet was a tuxedo cat named Mitzi. Martha financially supported several animal shelters and rescue organizations.
Martha was a loving wife and mother. Her granddaughters loved their “Marty” as much as she loved them. We will greatly miss our own “southern belle”.
Martha was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Stanley Bumby, and in 2009 her husband of 63 years, Judge William M. Kimberlin. She is survived by her daughter, Marsha Peters and her husband, Vic of Weatherby Lake, Missouri, her son William Bruce Kimberlin, Harrisonville, Missouri and two granddaughters, Lauren Kimberlin Peters, San Francisco, California and Lindsey Morlan Peters, Kansas City, Missouri.
A celebration of Martha Kimberlin’s life will be held on Thursday, January 17. The visitation will begin at 1:00 pm followed by a 2:00 service at Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the First Christian Church, Harrisonville, MO or the Harrisonville Animal Shelter,