John Lee Kibler, Jr., 1918-1988

On the 22nd day of September, 1918, John Lee Kibler Jr. was born to Myrtle and the Rev. John Lee Kibler Sr. Born to devout Christian parents and reared in a Methodist parsonage, John bore the marks of devotion to Methodism which he demonstrated all of his life. As a "preacher's kid" he was educated in various public schools of the Commonwealth. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1939 and went on to do graduate work in Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Early in his ministry he served Sandston United Methodist Church. While there, he married one of the young ladies of the church, Elizabeth Hopkins. Five children were born to this union: Betty Ann; John Lee III; William Carroll; Patricia Lynn; and David Barker. He served churches in Christiansburg, Sandston, Charles City, Fox Hill, Driver-Crittenden, Franktown-Johnsons, Bassett, Central in Richmond. His last appointment was Community in Virginia Beach, John left the pastoral ministry in 1967 and devoted the remainder of his career as a counselor for the Virginia Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. In 1973 he earned a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. He was held in high esteem by his co-workers. John's love and devotion to the United Methodist Church was visible during the years of his work as a rehabilitation counselor. During these years he was active in Highland United Methodist Church in Colonial Heights. He served this local church in many capacities on boards, commissions, teaching in church school, filling in for the pastor when he was away. John was a willing worker! At the time of his death he was a trustee of the Petersburg District. He was a member of the Petersburg District Council on Minis- tries and served as its secretary. After his retirement as a rehabilitation counselor, he became the full-time "visiting minister" for Highland United Methodist Church. On the ninth day of August, 1988, John Lee Kibler Jr. laid aside these robes of flesh and slipped into the vestments of immortality.

-J. Floyd Carroll