Elsie "Kim" Williams

Elsie (Kim) Williams, 92, was born August 21, 1922 in Glenwood, Missouri to Thomas Lee and Lula M. (Brown) Kimbrell. She passed away peacefully February 1, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. A celebration of life memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 7, 2015 at United Church of Christ, 217 6th Street in Ames, Iowa. Kim was one of seven children, and grew up during the Depression on a farm outside Glenwood. Education was always a part of her life. She began her formal education in a one room country school, and received her first college degree, Bachelor of Science, from Kirksville State Teacher College (now known as Truman University). She began her professional career in education by teaching high school Home Economics in the Midwest and California before returning to Iowa to pursue her Master's at Iowa State. She never left. She became an Assistant Professor at Iowa State, primarily teaching classes in textiles and clothing. In addition to teaching, she applied for and received a grant to utilize a new media outlet, television, to produce a live feature called 'Make a Dress', and series of single concept films on clothing construction. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching of...[more]

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ampus classes throughout the state, primarily to adult educators. She also was involved with Iowa State's extension program, working with various 4-H clubs throughout the State, including judging at the State Fair, as well as leading a trips to Washington D.C and Chicago for to the National Club Congress and National 4-H Convention. She also represented Iowa State during an appearance before Congress during the debate to move towards the metric system. Kim was instrumental in reaching out to the business community and engaging them in becoming involved with the University, for a mutual beneficial relationship. That initial outreach as blossomed into what is now a degree program of Apparel, Merchandising, and Design within the Department of Human Sciences. She said that one of her greatest pleasures, however, was talking to parents of young women who chose to pursue a career in the textile and clothing industry at Iowa State because of her influence through the extension program. She said that her professional accomplishments could be summed up quite simply in that she loved to teach. That love, and her dedication, was rewarded in her receiving the Iowa State Faculty Citation in 1976 and the Outstanding Teaching Award in 1981. Her personal joy and fulfillment was being a wonderful friend to many, a wife, a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Proceeding her in death are all of her siblings and her husband, Dale, the long time voice of the Cyclones, whom she, of course, met at Iowa State. Surviving her include her daughter Mary Lou (Tim) Linder; son Kyle Williams; grandchildren Alecia (Jared) Bucksa, Nick Linder, Kelsie (Chris) Campbell, and Gabrielle Williams; and four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Louis Bucksa, and Jackson and Eleanor Campbell. Please make any Memorials on Kim's behalf to the Iowa State Department of Human Sciences, Apparel, Merchandising and Design Program. Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com