Barry Hampshire
I am sad to have to share the news that Kymberlie Ingalls died recently. I think many of her knew her well as she had been a cornerstone of this branch for a long time. Following are the notes I prepared before giving a tribute to Kymberlie during our April general meeting. I wanted to share them with you here as she was a tenacious and loyal writing partner who will be greatly missed.
“Yesterday, I heard some profoundly sad news. If you haven’t heard, this news could cause you to pause. On Tuesday, April 9th, Kymberlie Ingalls passed away. She had been on the Mt. Diablo branch Board for many years and had served as an officer on the Board of several other branches as well.
Kymberlie was always willing to help our branch. When we returned to in-person meetings after Covid, she volunteered to video the meetings for those who were out of state. Often, this necessitated her cajoling her husband Roger into driving her to the meeting.
One of Kymberlie’s greatest loves was her non-profit that she ran for quite a number of years. She started
collecting socks, which she could distribute to shelters and organizations who supported the homeless. Her friends joined her in this effort. This last winter season they shared dry, warm socks to thousands of those people who were in the greatest need. Recently, she used her lagging energies to maintain this effort.
Within our own club, Kymberlie found her own unique way to demonstrate her dedication to our branch.
Starting two or three years ago, whenever we joined Kymberlie on Zoom calls, she would often be busy crocheting or knitting. We were delighted when she offered to donate one of her crocheted bed spreads, which we auctioned during our December meetings. I believe Cindy Leonard received the last one. At the same time, auctioning off these beautiful bed spreads caused me to try my hand at being an auctioneer – something I never imagined myself doing.”
So Kymberlie, you challenged me to be a better and more versatile president. I, along with the Board, will miss you as you helped us through many trials and tough decisions. And we all, as members of this club, have lost a stalwart supporter in our efforts to become better writers.
Dita Basu:
“Kymberlie Ingalls is no more…” – the message didn’t sink in until the end of the zoom meeting that day.
As I shut the laptop, a blob of blue void engulfed my senses. Collages of images popped into that dark canvas.
I knew Kymberlie long before I knew about CWC. I met her in a writing class more than a decade ago.
Next session, in another writing workshop, she was there. This tall, beautiful girl, all in black, sat next to me. “Hey, you’re here too,” she said.
After that class dissolved, we formed a close-knit writers’ group and met at the teacher, Ellen Starkman’s
home. Then over the years at Antioch writers’ group, Pittsburg library and Concord Senior. Kymberlie always found a place for the fellow writers to meet whenever we ran out of options. And finally, one fall day she invited me to CWC, and I found a niche. That was eleven years ago.
Memories swirl like an indigo nebula with its fiery sparks. Images of Kymberlie emerge with her
humorous tone and her dry wit.
One day when I shared my concern with her, “ I need a good editor.” She replied, “Dita, it’s like finding a
good husband… like a good marriage,” stressing on the word ‘good’. We laughed while stretching the joke as we strolled through the parking lot.
Another day she came as usual all in black, a shiny bowl in hand. “No writing to share, but some
cupcakes I made this morning.”
I remember her sitting with a ball of yarn, listening to someone’s story, knitting away hats for the
homeless. She gave herself generously whenever needed.
As I was going through one of my old journals, I stalled on a page with notes from her teaching. That day,
she was teaching a workshop in CWC. I could see on the page a picture of a big triangle. According to her
instruction on the apex point I wrote, “what kind of author do I want to be?” We had to divide the triangle
into more thoughtful segments with publishing and marketing strategies. Today I wonder what Kymberlie
thought that day? What kind of author would she wish to be? A best seller? An award winner or a beloved
author appreciated by her readers and fellow writer friends? I never asked. Not more than what she shared.
Who was Kymberlie ? How was her world?
A book with a black cover and a thin spine on my bookshelf gives the answer. It covered all her blog
posts where she gave it all.
Her style had a sad tone and a blue hue. And she was desperate to bring some light and some goodness to this world. She left a bit of herself to each of us she had touched.
My eyes blur as I write… it’s not fair. She was too young to die … she had so much to give, so much to
live. It’s just not fair.
A sad tune susurrated in the silence —
‘She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes…
She only reveals what she wants you to see…
She hides like a child, but she’s always a woman to me.’
Marlene Dotterer
My heart hurts to post about Kymberlie Calkins Ingalls, who left us on Tuesday, April 9. Barry announced this at our meeting yesterday, but this Back Fence group owes its existence to Kymberlie and I wanted to post it here. She was a vital part of CWC. Not just Mt. Diablo, but all the northern branches have benefited from her thoughts and actions. Kymberlie has been ill and in pain for a long time, but she never lost her sense of irony, humor, and deep compassion for all life.
B. Lynn Goodwin
I watched her walk and felt the pain. Yet she kept going. She was strong despite it, independent, and had a unique voice. I had great respect for all of her activities. One busy lady–despite the pain.
Lyn Roberts
We will always remember her kindness and contributions our writers.
Judith Marshall
I, too, was shocked to learn of Kymberlie‘s passing. We sat next to each other at many CWC meetings and shared several of the same ideas and opinions. Despite her many health problems, she was always ready to volunteer to help in any way she could. I also want to thank and commend her husband Roger for driving her to many of the CWC meetings and events. My thoughts are with him at this time.
Ann Damaschino
She was a dedicated leader in the writers’ community—quirky with a dry sense of humor, and a philanthropist. A sad loss to her family and friends.
Judith Ingram
I am deeply sorry to hear about the loss of Kymberlie. I appreciated her wit, honesty, and creative contributions to our writing community. She will be missed.
Elisabeth Tuck
Kymberlie was such a strong supporter of CWC, volunteering in every way she could.
Lily Ann Gwilliam
I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of Kymberlie Calkins Ingalls. May she rest in peace.
Andrew Benzie
Very sorry to hear about Kymberlie. She was at the first CWC MEETING I attended many years ago, and almost every one since. Seemed strange without her on Saturday. She contributed so much to our and other CWC branches, she will be missed by all. I hope she is in a happier place.
Margie Witt
Kymberlie and I talked about supporting our members by reading their books. I just read “43” and wish I had read her book before she passed. Despite her many challenges, she was always generous with her time and talents.
