Irwin A. Kimmel, 87, of St. Leonard, died February 21st, 2009, at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick, MD. He was born in Washington, DC on April 25th, 1921, to the late William and Margaret Kimmel.

He grew up on Tennessee Avenue and graduated from Eastern High School in Washington, DC. On June 12th, 1943, he married Gladys D. Wager, of Remington, VA. They lived in Prince George's County and were active members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover, MD, and Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, in Solomons Island, MD.

In the early 1950's, they built their beach home together, by hand, on Overlook Drive in Long Beach. From then on, they enjoyed every weekend in and opportunity to escape to "the Land of Pleasant Living." For over 20 years, they kept their boat at the Flag Harbor Marina and enjoyed every aspect of the Chesapeake Bay. Irwin was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

In 1975, they moved to Long Beach permanently, spending their winters with many of their Long Beach neighbors and friends in Fort Myers Beach, FL.

Suddenly on April 30, 1991, Gladys passed away and Irwin spent the last 17 years still in Long Beach with their only daughter, Patricia. The last eight of which he lived with Patricia and her husband John in their home on Long Beach Drive.

Irwin enjoyed 30 years of active service and especially camaraderie as a member of the Calvert County Lions Club. He was named the 1997 Calvert County Lion of the Year and was selected as a 2005-2006 Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated Humanitarian Service awarded by the Lions Club International Foundation.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased in death by his brother William Kimmel of Hagerstown, MD.

He is survived by his only child, Patricia Kimmel Jensen and her husband John Jensen of Long Beach, and his three granddaughters, Brandi Valentine, 30, of Rota, Spain; Amanda Wood, 25, of Cedar Cove, MD; Candice (Muffy) Berthiaume, 24, of Lusby, MD; and his great-granddaughter Destiny Valentine, 8, also of Rota, Spain. The girls were truly the light of his life and the wind beneath his wings.

Family will receive friends Friday, February 27, from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm, at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 20 American Lane, Lusby, MD. The Calvert County Lions Club will hold a service on Friday at 7:00 P.M. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 28, 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 90 Alexander Lane, Solomons, MD. Father Richard Gardiner and Deacon Christopher Jensen (brother-in-law of Patricia Kimmel Jensen) will officiate. The pallbearers are Todd Alther of Berlin, MD (special friend of the family), Michael Berthiaume, of Lusby, MD (grandson-in-law), Gary Robey, of Millington, DE (nephew), Ronald Samek, of Bowie, MD (nephew-in-law), Steven Wolfe, Jr., of Lusby, MD (special friend of the family), Ronald Valentine, Jr. (grandson-in-law). Interment at Our Lady Star of the Sea Cemetery will be private.

Memorial contributions can be made in Irwin Kimmel's name to the Calvert County Lions Club, Attn: Dick West, 11740 Asbury Circle, Apt. #1315, Solomons, MD 20688.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.