Rev. Melvin A. Kimble, Ph.D., friend, mentor, pastor, professor. Mel joined the American Society on Aging group in the late 1980’s and was very much a part of the founding of the Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging. Mel was best known for his relationship with Viktor Frankl the Viennese founder of Logo Therapy. When Mel graduated from Seminary, he discovered the work of Viktor Frankl, M.D., Ph.D. (Author of Man’s Search for Meaning). He contacted Dr. Frankl and in 1960 he and his family moved to Vienna so that Mel could study with him. He spent four years studying with him in various capacities before he returned to the United States where he was invited to teach at what is now Luther Seminary. Subsequently, Mel completed his Ph.D. at International University in San Diego when Viktor Frankl, Carl Rogers, Albert Ellis and Abraham Maslow were all faculty in their Psychology Department.
Mel spent his career teaching various pastoral care courses at Luther Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota. From his work with Dr. Frankl, Mel began to see the connection between Logo Therapy and the needs of older adults. His writing in the later part of his career generally reflects the pastoral needs of older adults. This included Kimble, M., McFadden, S. Ellor, J. Seeber, J., Eds. (1995). Aging, Religion and Spirituality: A Handbook. Minneapolis, Fortress Press, and Kimble, M. A. (2000). (Ed.) Viktor Frankl’s Contribution to Spirituality and Aging. Binghamton, The Haworth Press. He was also on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Aging.
Mel Kimble was married to JoAnne Kimble, his lifelong partner. Together they had 2 daughters. JoAnne predeceased him by seven months. Mel was an important member of the Religion and Aging community right up until the time of his death. He will be greatly missed.