John Edward Kimpton

Jack was born in 1934 in Livingston, Montana and grew up on his parent’s cattle ranch near Toston, Montana. After graduating from high school in 1952 at Townsend, he enrolled at Montana State College (now Montana State University) to study Engineering Physics and Electrical Engineering. He received an Electrical Engineering degree in 1956. While there he met the love of his life, Carolyn Stamm who was majoring in Microbiology. Before starting his senior year, he and Carolyn were married September 11, 1955 and embarked on an extraordinary journey that spanned 70 years.

During his 3 year commitment in the Army, he was involved with the first American satellite launching and the testing of missiles at White Sands Missile Range, NM. He resigned as a Captain and joined the Martin Company in Denver in 1960. His career including testing of Titan missiles, validating the technique for landing the first satellites on Mars, and the installation of the systems which controlled the launch of the Space Shuttle. He was also a Director for the construction of the Air Force Shuttle Complex at Vandenberg AFB in California. During his career with Martin he was twice the recipient of the Denver Performance award and in 1979, he received the Corporation’s Jefferson Cup Award. He retired in 1992 as Program Director with Martin Marietta.

With Carolyn, they raised three children, Timothy, Daniel and Karen. Jack supported all of the children’s interests from scouts, to band and sports. Jack went on camping trips, sold concessions to raise funds, built homecoming floats and was always in the stands. Jack was a hands-on parent and number one supporter of his family.

Jack and Carolyn caught the sailing “bug” and cruised in the Virgin Islands, Florida, the southern California coast, and the Greek islands. They traveled extensively in Europe, Canada, Mexico as well as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Russia.

Jack was a long time member of Saint Michaels and All Angels Church, the Masonic Lodge and El Jebel Shrine. He and Carolyn also volunteered many years for the Visiting Nurses and for 25 years as Ambassadors at Denver International Airport.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Bill and Albert. Survivors include his wife Carolyn, children Timothy Kimpton (Susan) in Portland, Maine, Daniel Kimpton (Kim) in Denver and Karen Fischer (Tim) in Augusta, Georgia and three granddaughters, Emily Kimpton, Dana Kimpton and Haley Fischer.