Don King, 83, of Palo Alto Drive in Wurtemburg, passed away on Wednesday, July 22nd at Evergreen Nursing Center, where he had resided since February.
He was born in Chewton to the late Ethel Durment and William King. He was the last remaining of his six siblings; Bob, Jim, Tess, Nell, Geneva, and John.
He graduated from Wampum High School. He married Jane Cook in June,1953. Eight days later he shipped off to Korea where he served as a tank commander and earned the rank of sergeant in the United States Army. After two years, he returned and he and Jane had two children, Diane and Don.
Don’s work took the family to Whittier, California in 1961, where they lived for three years. After returning to Ellwood, Don studied to become an electrical engineer, and worked for the Herman Corporation and Westinghouse. Don worked primarily in the nuclear division, where he designed a robotic arm to replace a component in a nuclear reactor core. His work afforded him the opportunity to travel the country and the world, including Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Russia, where he lived and worked for six months.
Don had many interests. He was a constant reader. He was keenly interested in family history, and digitized old photos and compiled extensive genealogies. He liked astronomy, and built his own 8 foot telescope. He was fascinated by electricity and magnetism, and built two working Tesla coils. He appreciated engineering, and built a scale model of the Eiffel Tower with toothpicks. He enjoyed hunting and selling ginseng, and wrote and published a book, Hunting the Elusive Ginseng. His memoirs of Korea are part of the U.S. Army Heritage Center’s archives. He was a member of Wurtemburg Presbyterian Church, where he served as adult Sunday School teacher, elder, and youth group leader through the years.
Don was predeceased by his loving wife of 58 years, Jane, and his son, Don. He is survived by daughter Diane and husband, Scott Dombach, grandchildren Seth and Melissa Dombach, Rachael Shaffer, Josh and Mindy King, and five great-grandchildren, who he dearly loved. He is also survived by Meddi Awalom, who lived with the Kings for a year as an exchange student and remains part of the family.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, July 24th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM at the Marshall Funeral Home, 200 Fountain Ave., Ellwood City. Friends will also be received at the funeral home from 3:00 PM until the service at 4:00 PM on Saturday. Pastor Dan Stinson will officiate. Internment will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wurtemburg Presbyterian Church, 291 Wurtemburg Rd., Ellwood City, PA.
Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com.
Dee and Scott, we grieve over your loss of your father and also know his struggles are over. We also know that his was one of the most accomplished lives I have had the privilege of brushing against. And obviously take solace in knowing his biggest accomplishment came with the love he had for his family. God bless you both, your children, and all of the rest of your family. With time will come stronger even more wonderful memories.
Mark and Kim Campbell