Gerald J. King Obit

Gerald J "Jerry" King Obit [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Gerald J. "Jerry" King
Oct 27, 1931 - Jan 29, 2007

Posted by Glenn

Gerald J. King, "Jerry", 75, a former employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an elder of University Christian Church in Hyattsville, Maryland, died Jan. 29, 2007, at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. He had recently moved to Mount Airy, Maryland after living in Lanham Maryland for 43 years.

Mr. King was born in Saika, Kan. and lived in Hesston, Kan., before his family settled in Helena, Okla. where he received his primary education. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in 1953, served in the Army for two years, then received a master's degree in dairy science from Oklahoma A&M in 1956. While at A&M he was active in the Army ROTC and Wesley Foundation, and there met his wife of 54 years, Cherry.

Mr. King taught at the agricultural school in Okmulgee, Okla. for two years, then operated a dairy farm in Billings, Okla. from 1958 until 1961. In 1962 he moved his family to Maryland where he worked 22 years for the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Dairy Herd Improvement Program in Beltsville. He later worked for the U. S. Mint until his retirement in 1993.

His active membership, for 44 years, in University Christian Church included service as elder, treasurer, historian, and director of adult education, as well as a leadership role in training and planning for the Christian Church camp and conference programs. His church affiliation and life-long commitment to issues of social justice led to his involvement in numerous ecumenical and community service projects for families and the homeless. He was an ardent supporter, morally, materially and financially, of the missions of the National Capitol Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches, and volunteered his services to the National Federation of the Blind.

Mr. King enjoyed books, travel history, camping, photography, genealogy, and on Sunday evenings, homemade popcorn.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Delbert King of Tulsa, Okla. and his sister Norma Jean Simpson of Stillwater, Okla.

He is survived by his wife, Cherry King, of Mount Airy, Md.; sister, Eleanor Schrock of Kalona, Iowa; son, Steven King; and grandson Alan King of Monrovia, Md; daughter, Gail King of Luray, Va.; son, Stuart King; daughter-in-law, Carol Kanaskie; granddaughter, Eva King and grandson, Julian King of Adamstown, Md; and daughter Sharon King Duke; son-in-law, Bill Duke and granddaughters, Sarah and Grace Duke of Mount Airy, Md.

A memorial service will be held at a later date, preceding inurnment at Polo Cemetery, Noble County, Okla.