Paul Henry Kimpel Jr.

PAUL HENRY KIMPEL JR., 96, of Little Rock, Ark., passed to be with the Lord on Sept. 21, 2012. Paul was born on Nov. 21, 1915 to Paul Henry and Anna Brand Kimpel in St. Louis, Mo. Having lost both of his parents by age 21, Paul supported his two younger sisters and his aunt while working at the Anheuser-Busch brewery. During this time, he enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis, and while continuing to work full time, succeeded in completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1943. With World War II in progress, the Aluminum Ore Company (AOC, today Alcoa) was looking for engineers to build and operate the Hurricane Creek plant in Bryant, Ark. Paul took a job with AOC and moved to Benton, Ark. Walking into the Administration building at the plant one day, his eyes fell on the receptionist, a beautiful redhead from Georgia named Mary Wert. After a wartime courtship, they wed on July 19, 1944, and together enjoyed 68 years of marriage, remaining loving and devoted to each other until Mary's passing just weeks prior to his own. Paul pursued a career with Alcoa that spanned 38 years, taking Mary and their four children through 13 different moves to locations that included St. Louis, Mo., Pittsburgh, Pa., Little Rock, Ark., Pinjarra, Western Australia, and Kingston, Jamaica. They retired to Little Rock in 1981, where they were faithful members of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church. Paul's upbringing and family circumstances taught him the value of hard work and earning one's way in the world. He was a self-made man, relentless in seeing that things were done right, but generous with his time, talents, and support, and devoted to his family, his church and his work. Through many career assignments, including those overseas, Paul excelled not only in leading large organizations and building and operating plants for Alcoa, but also in caring about the people working for him. He loved to be out in the plants, talking with the workers, asking about their families and always making them feel a part of the company. Outside of his family and career, Paul most loved to work with his hands. A self-described "project guy" and accomplished handyman and do-it-yourselfer, he seldom hired someone to do anything he could do on his own. He received great satisfaction in applying his engineering mind to the design and construction of things large and small—from simple wooden fixtures to room renovations to complete house additions. After retirement, he devoted a large portion of his time to the maintenance and improvement of the buildings and facilities at Westover Hills, continuing to work at the church almost daily until well into his 80s, all the while delighting in the children attending the daycare on site. He also found satisfaction in lending his business experience to boards of non-profit organizations, among them Presbyterian Village and as an international Rotarian while on assignment in Western Australia in the 1970's. Paul was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary; his parents, Paul Henry and Anna Brand Kimpel; his sisters, Eleanor Kimpel and Ruth Kimpel Jacobs. He is survived by son, Paul (Sally) Kimpel III of San Diego, Calif.; son, William (Nancy) Kimpel of Little Rock; daughter, Carolyn (Kurt) Musfeldt of Nashville, Tenn.; and daughter, Anne (William) Hahnel of Hebron, Ky.; grandchildren, Lauren (Brian) Baker, Kyle (Jenni) Kimpel, Nathan Musfeldt, Eric Musfeldt, Katherine Hahnel, Thomas Kimpel, and Elizabeth Hahnel; great-grandchildren Bradley Kimpel and William Baker. Services will be held at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, Rev. Michael Kuner officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., with funeral services at 11 a.m., and graveside burial immediately following at Pinecrest Memorial Park, Alexander, Ark. Pallbearers will be Kyle Kimpel, Nathan Musfeldt, Eric Musfeldt, Brian Baker, and Mac Compton. Funeral services to be provided by Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St. Little Rock, Ark. 72205. Please contact the funeral home regarding services, flower deliveries or other information at 501-666-0123. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the nurses, CNAs and staff at Presbyterian Village for their professionalism and devoted care during Paul's final years there, and to Paul and Mary's Westover Hills friends for their frequent and loving visits. The family will accept flowers, but suggests instead a donation to the "Paul Kimpel Memorial Fund", in care of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, 6400 Richard B. Hardie Dr., Little Rock, Ark. 72207. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.