Hi folks! My father, Charles King, husband of Wilma King, died peacefully Saturday afternoon after several months of struggles. His funeral yesterday was a celebration of a life well lived in service to his community. What follows is the text of the obituary that was given to the local newspaper. Charles R. King, retired school superintendent, died Saturday, July 14th, 2001. Born July 1st, 1917, he was a graduate of the University of Arkansas, had a Masters degrees from Oklahoma State University and had studied at several other colleges and universities. Mr. King served in the Pocahontas school system as vocational agriculture teacher for eight years. During those years, he greatly expanded the scale of the department and was involved in the design and construction of a new vocational agriculture building before being selected by the school board to become superintendent. During his tenure as superintendent, the Alma Spikes School was designed and constructed, the high school was extended and the present football field and track was constructed. After seven years in that position, Mr. King moved to Alaska where he was superintendent or principal at the William E. Beltz Vocational School at Nome, the Fort Yukon schools and the Metlakatla schools. After eleven years in Alaska, Mr. King retired and returned to his home in Pocahontas. In addition to his professional duties, Mr. King served as both board member and president of the Randolph County Fair Board. Mr. King is a former President of the Pocahontas Chamber of Commerce, and a Lieutenant Governor of the Kiwanis Clubs of Arkansas. Since his retirement, he has been an active member of the Retired Teachers Association and the Pocahontas Lions Club. He was for several years a regional director for the Arkansas AARP and was a board member of the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging. His hobbies were gardening and fishing. When Mr. King constructed his retirement home on his farm near Pocahontas, he installed the first ground water coupled heat pump system built by a local business to heat and cool his home. That business has patented features of the design and has since grown into a substantial and thriving manufacturing concern providing employment for many people of the area. Mr. King wrote an autobiography, entitled "Schoolmaster" which was serialized in the Pocahontas Star Herald newspaper recently. Mr. King has been a member of the Church of Christ for more than sixty years. Mr. King is survived by his wife of 59 years, Wilma, his sons Robert King of Winslow, Arkansas, and Tom King of Pocahontas, his daughter-in-law Cari King of Pocahontas, his brothers Ray, James, and Buddy King, and sister Geraldine Gregory all of Los Angeles, California. In addition, several nieces and nephews, and many friends survive him. Visitation will be at McNabb Funeral Home in Pocahontas between 4:00 and 7:00 PM, Monday, July 17, 2001. The funeral service will conducted at the McNabb Chapel in Pocahontas by Brother Larry Owen of the Westridge Church of Christ. The service will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 18, 2001. Interment will be in Randolph Memorial Cemetery. -- Robert W. King I'm an ingenieur, NOT a bloody locomotive driver! SnailNet: 19023 TV Tower Rd, Winslow, Arkansas 72959 BellNet: 501-634-2086 InterNet: [email protected] Web site: http://www.wildweasel.net