James Albert Kimbrell, 71, of Sylva, passed away Sunday morning May 6, 2012 at Medwest Harris Hospital in Sylva. A native of Gaston County, he lived most of his life in Jackson County and was the son of the late Raymond and Sally Picklesheimer Kimbrell.
He was a U.S. Army Veteran having served in Germany. He was teacher for the Cherokee Indian Reservation Schools having taught Industrial Arts. He was a skilled craftsman, who took pride in his black powder weapons, and had won five State Championship Awards in the Senior Division for long bow archery, which he handcrafted himself.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his sister Kaye Cornet. He is survived by his wife of 45 years Patricia Dillard Kimbrell, daughter, Julie Kimbrell, of Sylva, and son, David Faulkner, of Waynesville.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date and will be announced by Appalachian Funeral Services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in James Kimbrell’s name to Relay for Life, 120 Executive Park, Building 1, Asheville, NC 28801