Farmingdale-Donald Orman Kimball, 84, died on July 4, 2016 at his home on Northern Ave.

He was born in Lincoln, Maine on May 7, 1932 the son of Lloyd and Mary Kimball.

On May 31, 1950, Donald joined the U.S. Army for four years, receiving an honorable discharge on May 5, 1954. During this time, he was sent to Korea and served on the front line of battle for a month and eighteen days. He was awarded the United Nations Service Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal in Germany, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Combat Infantry Par 1 SO 188 HQ Fifth Cavalry Division, and the National Defense Service Medal.

He was a member on the 40/8 for 28 years and a VFW member of the Gardiner post for about twenty years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 132 in Richmond where he served as Commander from 1990 to 1991. Altogether, he was a legion member for 39 years.

Donald loved to cook. While in the army, he became his company’s mess sergeant. Knowing that the Army “runs on its stomach”, Donald became proficient at feeding as many as three hundred men at a time. They loved his cookies, biscuits, and rolls and he enjoyed knowing that they were happy. Donald also enjoyed being outside. He loved using his Kubota and could do most anything with it. If it broke down, he could fix it with his strong determination and years of experience. In his later years, bird watching became another passion. His feeder would attract an array of species and he would be amazed by their colors and songs.

Donald also enjoyed visiting his family and sharing the many stories about his youth, his stint in the army, his adventures overseas, the crazy situations he discovered while working for the public for so many years. We loved hearing these stories even if they had been told before. He had lived a very full life and loved his family very much. We will miss him every day with all of our hearts and salute his memory especially on the fourth of July.

Donald began working at the age of 10 during summer break from school. During his early years, he worked on farms haying and taking care of the animals, and peeled pulp in the Northern Maine woods. When his family moved to West Gardiner, he bought a bike and delivered newspapers. When he was 16, he washed dishes at Heald’s Diner, and delivered furniture for Max Fogelman. At 18 yrs of age, he joined the Army.

After returning home from four years of service, he worked at Gardiner Fruit and the Gardiner paper mill. During this time, he also worked part-time as an odd job repairman. His honesty and hard work earned him a reputation around Gardiner and his home repair career took off. He soon quit the paper industry and worked full-time at his home repair business. Over the course of the next thirty five years, he built fourteen new homes along with numerous smaller jobs in the Gardiner area. He retired from his full-time business around the age of seventy, but he always found time to help out family, a friend, or former customer. For years he cut and split his own wood to burn in the winter until he was eighty three. Donald worked hard his whole life and he would not have wanted it any other way.

He was predeceased by parents Lloyd and Mary Hill Kimball, Sister Cora Glazier, Brothers- Lawrence, Patrick, Carlton, and Earl Kimball.

Donald is survived by Daughters Diana Cox, Sandra Kimball, and Roxane Genovese & her husband Antonio. He has six grandchildren; Justin, Ashley, and Lauryn Cox and Federico, Marcello, and Nicolas Genovese. He has two great grandchildren Isabelle and Alora Genovese along with three grand daughter in-laws Kristen, Candis and Allison Genovese. His former-wife for thirty two years Madeline Kimball, long-time partner for twenty two years Violette Murphy, and best friend for nineteen years, Chubby, his kitty.

A graveside service will be at noon on Tuesday, July 12^th at the new Maine Veterans Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Rd. Augusta.

Donald loved animals and they always reciprocated that love. They trusted him to care for them fully. He disliked stories of abuse and would want donations made to your local animal shelter in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements are under the care of Kincer Funeral Home 130 Pleasant St. Richmond, Me 04357.