Father Conrad Lewis Kimbrough
Anima eius et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum
per Dei misericordiam requiescant in pace.
From obituary published in the Salisbury Post,
Salisbury, NC:
The Rev. Conrad Lewis Kimbrough, who died Tuesday,
July 5, 2011, was born in Salisbury on May 10, 1927, the son of the late
Conrad Lewis Kimbrough and the late Zola Vesta Ussery Kimbrough both of
Salisbury.
He graduated from Boyden High School in Salisbury and after attending
two years at Brevard College, graduated from Berea College in Kentucky
in 1948. He began his studies for the Episcopal priesthood at Nashotah
House in Nashotah, Wis., in 1948, where he earned his Bachelor and
Master of Divinity degrees and was ordained in 1952. Over the next 15
years, he served in a number of posts in the Episcopal Diocese of Fond
du Lac, Wis.
Becoming increasingly dissatisfied with his life as an Episcopalian,
Father Kimbrough became a Catholic in 1977 and shortly thereafter
returned to North Carolina where he applied to Bishop Michael J. Begley,
the first Bishop of Charlotte, for ordination as a Catholic priest.
After a few months of study at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales
Corners, Wis., Bishop Begley ordained him on Feb. 11, 1978, at St. Ann's
Church in Charlotte.
He served in the Diocese of Charlotte as a Diocesan Consultor, a member
of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and the Diocesan Vocations
Committee, in addition to serving as pastor of a number of parishes,
including St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir, St. Dorothy's in Lincolnton,
Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville, St. Benedict's in Greensboro
and Holy Spirit in Denver. He served for a brief time as administrator
at St. William's in Murphy.
He was a fervent promoter of priestly and religious vocations. During
his time at St. Benedict's Parish in Greensboro, he sent nine men to the
seminary and two women to religious life. A champion for the protection
of the unborn, Father Kimbrough was active in the Pro-Life movement and
was instrumental in establishing Room at the Inn, a residential home for
mothers in Denver. He was also an avid genealogist, and he donated his
genealogy papers to the Rowan County Public Library.
After retiring as pastor of Holy Spirit in Denver, Father Kimbrough
returned to his home in Salisbury, where he continued to offer parish
assistance to both Sacred Heart in Salisbury and other parishes in the
dioceses of Charlotte and Charleston, S.C. His final years were spent
living at Pennyburn at Maryfield in High Point, a retirement and nursing
facility operated by the Poor Sisters of the Mother of God, where he
continued to remain active until his health prevented him from doing so.
He is survived by one sister, Betty Jane "Betsy" Harrielle of Concord;
two brothers, Frank Kimbrough of Roxboro and Norman Kimbrough of
Wilmington; seven nieces and nephews, Frank Kimbrough, Jr., Conrad
Kimbrough, III, Mark Kimbrough and David Kimbrough of Roxboro, Edwin
Kimbrough of Summerfield, Anita Kimbrough of Pikeville and Emily
Kimbrough of Farmville.
Honoring our Chaplain
On Tuesday, May 13, 2008, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the Te Deum
Foundation endowed the Father Conrad L. Kimbrough Scholarship for
Seminarians.
This scholarship was endowed in grateful appreciation for his many
years of priestly service to the People of God and for fostering
vocations to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. Many priests, deacons, and
seminarians credit their positive response to their vocation to the
support of Fr. Kimbrough.
If you wish to offer a memorial for Fr. Kimbrough, please consider
making a donation to his scholarship fund.
