Obituary for Richard E. King
Our Dad passed away on his own terms, peacefully and comfortably, after a long diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Dad was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts and raised in Roslindale and Everett. He loved to reminisce about his days on Johnswood Road, telling stories of nearly being arrested as a kid after accidentally smashing a fresh hot pizza into a police officer and stealing pies from his lumber camp cook aunt’s windowsill. He was especially proud to have made the 6:00 p.m. news in Boston when he blew up the family kitchen with his chemistry set. He was not permitted to take chemistry in school ever again. We all think that was a missed opportunity.
Out of high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served eight years. After Parris Island and Camp Lejeune he deployed to Vietnam for two tours of duty. Following his honorable discharge, he began work at Bell Atlantic Telephone in 1968 and stayed through its many iterations as Nynex, New England Telephone, and finally Verizon. He was one of few journeymen to work on lines at the Bush compound at Walker’s Point. In 1978 he moved to West Newfield, Maine with his then wife, Michele.
He joined the Newfield Fire Department in 1981 and went on to serve for the remaining 41 years of his life. The strong friendships he found there became like a second family over the decades. He served in every position on the fire department including Chief. His drive to community service saw him on the School Board, the Ethan Stone fund, the Finance Committee, and in many other volunteer positions.
He earned his pilot’s license and joined the Experimental Aviation Association and for years spent every spare minute working on his kit biplane, a Stolp Starduster Too. He toiled away on it until he quietly sold it to afford his daughter a college education. Then he shifted gears and built a go-kart with his son. They could be found racing it at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on many a Friday night. He jumped to fulfill his kids’ every whim. He was ALWAYS up for a road trip- anywhere, anytime, even a 6 hour each way drive to the China Flat Bigfoot Museum with Evan on their way to visit Adam at Whidbey Island, Washington.
When his grandchildren were born, he welcomed each of them into the world with a birthday cake on their first day. They affectionately called him Papa or ‘The Tickle Monster,’ which brought a twinkle to his eyes, even in his last days. He leaves behind a huge community of friends, including The Neville clan, his Marine brothers, his phone company coworkers, and his fellow first responders at Newfield Fire & Rescue.
He is survived by his daughter Evan, her husband Torey Adler, and their kids Lillian and Sam, his son Adam and his wife Monique King, his sister Carol Muse and her daughters Christine King and Michelle Savio, his sister Martha Geggis, and their families.
He was predeceased by his sister Lois Shimada, his former wife Michele Palmer, and his parents Martha and Edmund King.
He was a hug giver, a life liver, a consumer reports aficionado, a road trip king, a mischief maker, and a big love giver. He made his breakfast rounds weekly at Lino’s, Cindy’s, and checked in at the New Deal for his paper and a coffee almost daily. He had a larger-than-life jolly green giant presence that will be so desperately missed. Love you, Daddio.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 18th from 4 – 6 p.m. at Autumn Green Funeral Home, 47 Oak Street in Alfred. A Graveside Service with military honors will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery, 83 Stanley Road, in Springvale.
A message of condolence or memory may be shared at Richard’s Book of Memories at www.bibbersautumngreen.com.
In Richard’s memory, please consider donating to the Newfield Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 170, West Newfield, ME 04095.
Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak St., in Alfred.
Dad was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts and raised in Roslindale and Everett. He loved to reminisce about his days on Johnswood Road, telling stories of nearly being arrested as a kid after accidentally smashing a fresh hot pizza into a police officer and stealing pies from his lumber camp cook aunt’s windowsill. He was especially proud to have made the 6:00 p.m. news in Boston when he blew up the family kitchen with his chemistry set. He was not permitted to take chemistry in school ever again. We all think that was a missed opportunity.
Out of high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served eight years. After Parris Island and Camp Lejeune he deployed to Vietnam for two tours of duty. Following his honorable discharge, he began work at Bell Atlantic Telephone in 1968 and stayed through its many iterations as Nynex, New England Telephone, and finally Verizon. He was one of few journeymen to work on lines at the Bush compound at Walker’s Point. In 1978 he moved to West Newfield, Maine with his then wife, Michele.
He joined the Newfield Fire Department in 1981 and went on to serve for the remaining 41 years of his life. The strong friendships he found there became like a second family over the decades. He served in every position on the fire department including Chief. His drive to community service saw him on the School Board, the Ethan Stone fund, the Finance Committee, and in many other volunteer positions.
He earned his pilot’s license and joined the Experimental Aviation Association and for years spent every spare minute working on his kit biplane, a Stolp Starduster Too. He toiled away on it until he quietly sold it to afford his daughter a college education. Then he shifted gears and built a go-kart with his son. They could be found racing it at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway on many a Friday night. He jumped to fulfill his kids’ every whim. He was ALWAYS up for a road trip- anywhere, anytime, even a 6 hour each way drive to the China Flat Bigfoot Museum with Evan on their way to visit Adam at Whidbey Island, Washington.
When his grandchildren were born, he welcomed each of them into the world with a birthday cake on their first day. They affectionately called him Papa or ‘The Tickle Monster,’ which brought a twinkle to his eyes, even in his last days. He leaves behind a huge community of friends, including The Neville clan, his Marine brothers, his phone company coworkers, and his fellow first responders at Newfield Fire & Rescue.
He is survived by his daughter Evan, her husband Torey Adler, and their kids Lillian and Sam, his son Adam and his wife Monique King, his sister Carol Muse and her daughters Christine King and Michelle Savio, his sister Martha Geggis, and their families.
He was predeceased by his sister Lois Shimada, his former wife Michele Palmer, and his parents Martha and Edmund King.
He was a hug giver, a life liver, a consumer reports aficionado, a road trip king, a mischief maker, and a big love giver. He made his breakfast rounds weekly at Lino’s, Cindy’s, and checked in at the New Deal for his paper and a coffee almost daily. He had a larger-than-life jolly green giant presence that will be so desperately missed. Love you, Daddio.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 18th from 4 – 6 p.m. at Autumn Green Funeral Home, 47 Oak Street in Alfred. A Graveside Service with military honors will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery, 83 Stanley Road, in Springvale.
A message of condolence or memory may be shared at Richard’s Book of Memories at www.bibbersautumngreen.com.
In Richard’s memory, please consider donating to the Newfield Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 170, West Newfield, ME 04095.
Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial at Autumn Green, 47 Oak St., in Alfred.