John Kimbro

A Legacy of Love

John Joseph Kimbro passed away peacefully at home on Saturday evening, October 28, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born July 17, 1938, to the late Katherine Elizabeth and William H. Kimbro. John was a kind and gentle soul with the heart and courage of a warrior. He was a native Nashvillian who loved and served his community his entire life.  

He was a proud member of United Auto Workers Local 737 and served as president of the local union for many years at Ford Motor Company’s Nashville Glass Plant. He was a fierce advocate for his union brothers and sisters and worked to strengthen union-management relationships at the plant for the benefit of all employees. During his tenure as president, he served for a period as first vice president of the AFL-CIO.  

While working at Ford Glass Plant for 47 years, he was drawn to the West Nashville community and served for several years on the Board of Directors at St. Luke's Community House. In addition to serving on the board, he delivered meals on wheels and worked on homes in disrepair through the West Nashville Partnership. Because of his heart to serve, he was recognized as a finalist for the Mary Catherine Strobel Nashville Volunteer of the Year award. 

John was an avid golfer. He was a member of Ravenwood Golf Course and loved to play all the Metro public courses. McCabe Golf Course became his favorite place to play golf later in life and he spent several days a week playing and volunteering at McCabe.  

As a child, Centennial Park was John’s playground. He loved to fish in the lake and play ball with the boys from his neighborhood. He grew up on his mama’s biscuits and banana splits from Candyland on West End. He loved to walk downtown with his friends and ride the escalators at Harvey’s department store. John came from a Catholic family and attended Cathedral and Father Ryan High School. As a teenager, he spent time at the Arcade downtown, and was known to win a dollar or two at the pool hall in the Arcade quite regularly. He was also known to do a little drag racing in his early twenties.  

Fishing was a great love of Johns all his life. From his days fishing in the lake at Centennial Park to his many fishing trips to Dale Hollow and the Tennessee River with all his fishing buddies, he loved fishing almost as much as he loved golf.  

Though his accomplishments were many, John was most proud of his family. John was the original girl dad to Amy and Kellie, and loved his boys, Eric, and John Tyler, who saw him as a father. He had a beautifully blended family. He is survived by the love of his life, best friend, partner in everything and wife Tana Kimbro. His legacy lives on in his children and grandchildren: Amy, Jessica and Megan Gaines, Old Hickory, TN; Ava Medley, Melbourne, FL; Eric Martin and his wife Kelly, Cincinnati, OH; and John Tyler McChesney, his wife Bailey and his youngest grandchildren Palmer and Turner, Franklin, TN. He is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law: Betty D. Kimbro and Eleanor Joan Kimbro.  He was preceded in death by his daughter Kellie, whom he grieved and is proud to be reunited with; brothers: William H. Kimbro, Jr. and Clarence F. Kimbro; and sister: Martha Elizabeth Kimbro Elrod (Artis D. Elrod). 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Alive Hospice website link https://www.alivehospice.org/

A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, November 8 at the Pavilion at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, 9090 Highway 100, Nashville, TN 37221. The gathering will start at 4:00 pm. The program celebrating John’s life as told by his family will begin at 4:30 pm, followed by a reception. All are welcome.