John Houston Kimzey, age 92 of Magnet Cove, died Monday, October 22, 2007 at his home. He was born in Magnet Cove on November 7, 1914 to the late John Taylor and Josephine E. Lofton Kimzey. Reared and receiving his early education in Magnet Cove, where he graduated from high school in 1934, he later graduated from Henderson State Teachers College ( now Henderson State University). He taught agriculture in the Donaldson schools for a time, but went to work for Reynolds Metals Company, from whose employ he retired in 1979. A World War 2 United States Army veteran, he served in the China-Burma-India Theater as an instructor in the foreign training center in Ramgarh, India. This center was top secret and it existence was not disclosed until after the war. The instructors at Ramgarh had been hand-picked for the assignment because they were tops in their field. Mr. Kimzey had learned to speak Chinese for his assignment and was issued a lapel pin with Chinese characters worn only by the instructors at Ramgarh. The translation: VICTORY THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.

Mr. Kimzey was an avid golfer. He shot his first hole-in-one at the age of 80! He was a member of the Arkansas State Golf Association, the International Order of the Oddfellows, and the Magnet Cove United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Ola Frances Beaver Kimzey, of the home, to whom he was married on January 24, 1961; by two daughters, Dee Emami of Oxnard, California, and Mitzi Beasley of Malvern; by a step-daughter, Doris Hubbard of Alexander, Arkansas; by a step-son Dale Harvey of Donaldson; by four grandchildren, Armaun Emami, Kimberly Black, Jeffrey Hunt, II, and Andrew Wilson; and by seven step-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by four sisters: Mary Kimzey, Annie Lapin, Gladys Van Meter, and Rosie Rogers; by five brothers: Jeff, Reed, Lawton, Ord, and Thornton Kimzey, and by a step-son, Walter Harvey.

His graveside service was held on Tuesday morning, October 23, 2007, at ten o'clock in the Magnet Cove Cemetery with the Reverend Bob Clark officiating. Arrangements were entrusted to J. A. Funk Funeral Home.

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