Alison G Kimberlin

Alison will be carried in the hearts of her sons, Scott and David, David’s wife, Kim, and their children, Will (Knight), Claire, and Katherine Kimberlin, all of whom she cherished and dearly loved. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Gray, and her nieces Susan Gray DeLeon and Lauren Gray. Her beloved husband of 64 years, Samuel Owen Kimberlin Jr., her parents Mary and Hob Gray, her mother-in-law and father-in-law Ruth and Sam Kimberlin Sr., and her sister-in-law Joyce Gray predeceased her. The entire family, including Linda Hendrix Kelly and David DeLeon, celebrated her 90th birthday in January, and memories of the smiles, laughter, and reflections of that day will be carried by all of us for the remainder of our lives.

Alison’s rootedness in Austin provided her foundation across her long life. The friends she made in her first decade of life remained exceptionally close for all the rest of her years. As they celebrated each other’s joyful times and supported one another during life’s inevitable losses, their bonds only strengthened with each new shared experience. The intentionality of their gathering to share with one another was exemplified in their weekly Lunch Bunch meetings every Thursday, first at the original Nau’s Drugstore on San Gabriel Street, then the Nau’s on West Lynn Street, and finally at The Frisco on Burnet Road. The Lunch Bunch was featured in an Austin American-Statesman article on The Frisco’s closing in 2018 as a demonstration of the commitment of lifelong friends to Austin institutions and to one another. It is a rare gift to have people that close for that long. Alison truly loved each and every one of these special women, and was strengthened by their bonds.

Alison attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School, now Lee Elementary, on Hampton Road, just blocks from the University of Texas campus where her father was a Professor in the English Department. She then attended University Junior High, where her teachers were students obtaining their teaching certificates at UT. Following graduation from Austin High School, Alison entered Plan II at UT, but after two years transitioned to a major in English with a minor in Latin so that she too could teach. She graduated in 1956 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

In the spring of 1955, Alison met Sam at a ball. They danced, he called to ask her out, and by the end of the year they were married! Their life together provided both of them with a sanctuary from which they could weather the twists and turns of life as well as celebrate its mountaintop experiences. One of her lifelong passions was travel, and she and Sam had tremendous opportunities to visit other places and learn about other cultures across their years together.

Alison joined the Austin Junior League in 1960 and served as president from 1972 to 1973. During her year leading the League, she explored fundraising avenues to support its activities. One of her lifelong friends (and a member of the Lunch Bunch) who lived in Washington D.C. at the time mentioned a holiday shopping market concept, and Alison appointed the committee that ultimately launched A Christmas Affair in 1976. A Christmas Affair became the main fundraising mechanism to support the League’s projects and programs, and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Alison also was president of the Docents of the Governor’s Mansion when Gov. George W. Bush was deciding to run for the Presidency. This was an exciting time with much focus on Mr. and Mrs. Bush, and Alison greatly enjoyed working closely with the other Docent to educate the public about the Texas Governor’s Mansion, serving as a guide for tours of the Mansion and serving as a hostess during special events held there.

Although there were other organizations that Alison contributed her time and energies to, none were more treasured by her than the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. It was not a coincidence that her favorite color scheme throughout her life was black and gold, nor that her favorite flowers were pansies. Throughout her years, she continued to actively support young women who were seeking to join the Thetas, and she would always take delight in their accomplishments.

We would like to thank the wonderful and dedicated staff in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Westminster. We are especially indebted to Ariana Jara and Elleni Seifu, both for their attentiveness to and love for Alison and for their unique gifts in helping to guide the rest of us through this journey.

A service of remembrance will be held on Thursday, March 6, at 2:30 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Settlement Home for Children, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, or a charity of your choice.