Lula Mae Kimberley Rothweiler taught at Spence, North River, Prairie View and Providence schools in
Lula Mae Kimberley married Dan B. Rothweiler April 29, 1941, in Lewis County, Mo. They are pictured in front Helen Young’s house at 3423 St. Mary’s Avenue in Hannibal. Helen Young was a long-time teacher at Turner School in rural Marion County, Mo. This photo was recently found in a scrapbook kept by Miss Young. CONTRIBUTED SUE HART
Long-tenured Hannibal teacher, Lula Rothweiler wed Dan B. Rothweiler in 1941
Lula Mae Kimberley was born in Texas in 1908, and within the next two years she moved with her parents and older siblings to Lewis County, Mo. It was there that she completed her public school education, which ultimately laid the groundwork for her college education.
She taught at a handful of Marion County rural schools before joining the staff of Mark Twain elementary school at Hannibal.
Following are tidbits on her life and career, as culled from Palmyra newspapers (newspapers.com) during the 1920s and 1930s.
Track & field
standout
Lula Mae Kimberley attended Fabius school, and in 1924 was a track and field standout. The April 17, 1924 edition of the Palmyra Spectator (newspapers.com) lists the following accomplishments.
• Baseball throw, 1. Frances Sams, Philadelphia. 2. Miss Mallory, Fabius. 3. Lula Mae Kimberley, Fabius.
• Standing broad jump, 1. Frances Sams, Philadelphia. 2. Lula Mae Kimberley, Fabius. 3. Jane Crane, Philadelphia.
• 50 yard dash. 1. Lula Mae Kimberley, Fabius. 2. Edna Marksbury, Emerson. 3. Martha Exon, Emerson.
• 30 yard dash. 1. Lula Mae Kimberley, Fabius. 2. Edna marksbury, Emerson. 3. Martha Exon, Emerson.
• Basketball throw. 1. Frances Sams, Philadelphia. 2 Margaret Young, fabius. 3. Lula Mae Kimberly, Fabius.
Kimberley family
Miss Kimberley was the fifth child of Alfred Langston Kimberely and Julia R. Nixon Kimberley. Older siblings included Viola Kimberley, Arthur Kimberley, Harvey Kimberley and Homer Kimberley.
Teaching career
Miss Kimberley was employed to teach at the Spence school for the 1928-1929 school year. The following school year, she moved to North River school, followed by several terms at Prairie View school. She was hired to teach at Providence school at Withers Mill for the 1934-35 term.
During the summers, Miss Kimberley attended Kirksville State Teachers College, and earned her bachelor’s degree in August 1937. During the summer of 1940, while still teaching at Providence school, she began studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, working toward her master’s degree.
In 1941, she exchanged wedding vows with Dan B. Rothweiler, a railroad fireman eight years her senior. He was the son of Amelia A. Bettis and Henry Bern Rothweiler. She left the employ of Providence School, and the newlyweds made their home at 731 Hazel Street in Hannibal. In December 1842, Dan and Lula Mae Rothweiler hosted a 50th wedding anniversary reception for her parents, who for many years lived on a farm north of Palmyra, before moving to Lewis County.
Lula Mae Kimberley Rothweiler became an educational fixture at Hannibal’s Mark Twain elementary school, teaching first grade during the later half of the 1950s. At the same time, Dan continued his railroad career, which began on steam engines
They didn’t have children of their own, but Mrs. Rothweiler made an education impact on an untold number of Missouri students.
Dan Rothweiler died Dec. 20, 1984, and Lula Mae Rothweiler died Oct. 26, 1995. They are buried together at Grand View Cemetery in Ralls County.
