Walter Thornton Pimbley, 94 years old, passed away peacefully in the early hours of November 13. He was very loved. His two sons were rooting for him to get to 120, like Moses, because he was so strong and clear-minded only two months ago. Alas, one thing goes wrong, it sets off a health cascade.
He is survived by his lovely wife of 68 years, Ellen Judd Pimbley. And by his sons, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
His sons, Joseph Maxwell Pimbley and Walter Thomson Pimbley, spent Tuesday next to his bed, laughing and remembering. At one point, a very competent red-haired nurse came in and left again. Pop said: “I took a red-haired girl to a Cleveland Indians game in 1947. We went by streetcar.”
“Did you kiss her, Pop?”
He laughed. “I thought I taught you boys that gentlemen don’t kiss and tell.”
Walt was born in Cleveland in 1930. His father, George Pimbley, was a successful chemist. His mother, Helen Herbert Pimbley, was a typist (she was only four foot nine, always wore heels, had an iron will and a golden temperament). His parents paid for him to get his B.S. at Kent State.
Walt won a fellowship to Penn State, where he got his M.S. and his Ph.D in physics, not to mention meeting and marrying the lovely Ellen.
Then he toured the nation for all the job offers he received. One was from American Standard!
“Those guys who make toilets and urinals, Pop? Why?”
“They were advertising for a physicist. Why not go see?”
In the end he chose IBM Endicott, Glendale Labs. “Because the offer was nice, and it’s a lovely place to raise a family.” And he gave back to the community. He umpired Little League games in Vestal in the late ‘60s, actually calling one of his sons out when the boy failed to get to second on a passed ball. (It was an easy call: the dumb kid misjudged his slide and was lying there on his back three feet from the bag.)
Walt won election to the Vestal School Board in 1965 and served through 1972. He became Vice President in 1968 and President of the Board in 1970, overseeing the building of African Road Elementary and Junior High School.
Walt had lots of patents for work on ink-jet printing and color copying. He helped build the modern world.
Walt retired in the 1990s, as the Senior Physicist at IBM Endicott. Then he and Ellen enjoyed a long retirement together.
We mourn the absence of Walter Pimbley’s wisdom, humor, and good company while celebrating his life and legacy. God rest the soul of this exceptional man.
Funeral services will be held Saturday November 23rd at 1:00 PM at the Leon Pucedo Funeral Home, Inc. 1905 Watson Blvd. Endicott, NY. The family will receive friends at the Pucedo Funeral Home on Saturday from 12 noon until time of service at 1 PM.
