Monday, April 14, 2003

Retired federal coal mine inspector

Martin F. Kimes, 84, of Carmichaels, died unexpectedly Sunday, April 13, 2003.

He was born May 29, 1918, in Bishop, a son of Martin F. and Ann Hunter Kimes.

Mr. Kimes was a 1935 graduate of Cecil Township High School.

He began working in the coal industry in 1936 at National No. 3 Mine of U.S. Steel Corp. in Muse. In 1946, he went to work as a mine official at Robena Mine for 19 years.

In 1965, he accepted an appointment from the Federal Bureau of Mines as a coal mine inspector. He worked for different agencies, including the Department of Labor, as coal mine inspector and coal mine inspector supervisor, retiring in October 1980.

Mr. Kimes lived in Muse from 1923 to 1939, when he moved to Canonsburg.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He reached the rank of first lieutenant after graduating from Officer Candidate School at the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga. He served in France and Germany and spent 12 years as executive officer of an infantry company in the 79th Division of the Organized Reserve Corps before his transfer to the Retired Reserve in 1958.

Mr. Kimes was a member of Reserve Officers Association and National Mine Rescue Association.

He also was a member of St. Hugh Catholic Church in Carmichaels.

On September 20, 1939, in Cumberland, Md., he married Julia Louise Gessler, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Sharon Vajentic of Washington, Kathleen Duchi of Pittsburgh and Gayle Caffrey from Rices Landing; 10 grandchildren, Kirk Vajentic, Sharon Fraley, Julie Bish, Steve Duchi III, Ken Duchi, Ryan Duchi, Corby Dobosh, Katie Caffrey, B.J. Caffrey and Marty Caffrey; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Copyright 2003
Observer Publishing Co.

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