Ralph Beaton Kimball, 89, professional musician and educator, passed away August 30, 2018, at St. Rose Siena Hospital. Born on June 5, 1929 in Dallas, Texas, he held degrees in trumpet and music education from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
He played trumpet professionally from his high school days until 1994, when cancer surgery forced his retirement. During his career in Texas, Arizona and Nevada, he played with the Corpus Christi Symphony, the Fourth Army Band, the Phoenix Symphony, and the Las Vegas Symphony, as well as in countless other concerts. He taught instrumental music in the public schools in west Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona. He moved to Las Vegas in 1968 and played as a freelance musician on various Strip jobs before joining the Lew Elias Relief Band, one of three relief bands active on the Strip at that time. He also taught as adjunct faculty for a time at UNLV.
He is survived by his wife of forty-seven years, Dr. Carol Harris Kimball, three daughters: Sheri Gerber of Phoenix, Janice Kauke of Las Vegas, and Karen Wyatt of Tucson; and by six grandchildren. Ralph loved photography, flying, automobiles, and above all, his family and playing the trumpet.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held in the lobby of Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus Saturday, October 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Las Vegas, Nevada.