Susan Gertrude Kimball
Mrs Susan Gertrude Kimball
Who was Susan Gertrude Kimball?
Susan Gertrude Kimball was a 45 (forty-five) year-old American first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on October 4, 1866, in Northampton, Massachusetts, she survived the tragic sinking and lived a long life until her death at the age of 95 (ninety-five) on March 21, 1962.
Early Life and Family Background
What was Susan Gertrude Kimball’s upbringing like?
Susan Gertrude Kimball, née Parsons, was born into a merchant family in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Her parents were:
- Father: Isaac Parsons (1829-1910), a merchant dealing in paints, oils, and pharmaceuticals
- Mother: Anna Grans Smith (1833-1891)
She grew up with three siblings:
- Anna (1855-1857)
- Ellen “Nellie” Jane (1857-1955, later Mrs Warren Kyle)
- Fannie (1859-1945, later Mrs John Arnold)
The 1870 and 1880 census records show that Susan spent her formative years in Northampton, providing her with a stable New England upbringing.
Marriage and Adult Life
On September 26, 1893, at the age of 26 (twenty-six), Susan married Edwin Nelson Kimball in Brookline, Massachusetts. Edwin, born in 1870, was a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and served as the president of the Hallet & Davis Piano Company in Boston, Massachusetts.
The couple’s life together was marked by:
- Residences in Brookline and Boston, Massachusetts
- No children
- Edwin’s successful career in the piano industry
The Titanic Journey
How did the Kimballs come to be on the Titanic?
As first-class passengers, Susan and Edwin Nelson Jr. Kimball boarded the Titanic at Southampton. Their ticket details were as follows:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ticket Number | 11753 |
| Cabin | D-19 |
| Fare | £52 11s 1d |
The Night of the Disaster
What happened to Susan Gertrude Kimball during the sinking?
On the fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, Susan and Edwin Kimball were among the fortunate survivors of the Titanic disaster. They were rescued in lifeboat 5, along with their friends:
- Richard and Sallie Beckwith
- Karl Behr and Helen Newsom
This group’s survival highlights the higher chances of rescue for first-class passengers, particularly women and couples.
Life After the Titanic
Susan Gertrude Kimball’s post-Titanic life was characterized by:
- Continued residence in Massachusetts
- Living with her husband in Newton, Middlesex (as per the 1920 census)
- Widowhood in 1927 after Edwin’s death
- Sharing a home in Boston with her widowed sister Ellen Kyle (1930 census)
Where did Susan spend her final years?
In her later years, Susan maintained a residence at 5 Arlington Street in Boston. However, her life came to an end at Wellesley Manor in Wellesley, Massachusetts, on March 21, 1962. At the impressive age of 95 (ninety-five), she had lived a life spanning nearly a century, witnessing profound changes in American society and technology.
Legacy and Final Resting Place
Susan Gertrude Kimball’s final resting place is alongside her late husband in Newton Cemetery, West Newton, Massachusetts. Her longevity and survival of one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history make her a notable figure in the annals of Titanic survivors.
As one of the last surviving first-class passengers of the Titanic, Susan Gertrude Kimball’s life story serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of those who lived through that tragic night and went on to lead full lives in its aftermath.
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Andre Nolan is an avid Titanic historian and the creator of TitanicUniverse.com, a website dedicated to uncovering the untold stories and forgotten details behind the famous ocean liner.
With a lifelong passion for maritime history, Andre has spent over a decade researching the Titanic, from the personal lives of passengers and crew to the engineering marvels that made the ship an icon of its era.
When he's not immersed in Titanic lore, Andre enjoys connecting with fellow maritime history lovers, exploring historic ships and shipwrecks.