Philip F. King

Phil King, age 88, of Deacons Walk, Newark, DE has gone to that great cardroom in the sky. He was a son, a brother, a classmate, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a friend.

Phil was born in Wilmington, DE on April 14, 1937, son of the late Paul Francis and Mary Elsie Bennett King. He was raised in Brookland Terrace, near Prices Corner; attended the Marshallton School; and graduated from Archmere Academy in 1955 where he participated in football, basketball and track. In 1956, his family moved to Glendale in Bear. He graduated from Mount St. Mary's University in 1959 with a BS in accounting, where he was president of the Tri State Club, secretary/treasurer of the chess club and treasurer of the Pi Delta Phi National French Honor Society. During the summer months in high school and college he worked at all three Allied Kid leather plants in the wet shops. He also worked for the US Postal service as a carrier during his Christmas vacation from college. He started his working career as a management trainee for Montgomery Ward in Cumberland, MD. Later he was assistant store manager in Waterville, ME, and Glens Falls, NY, store manager in Westerly, RI, and operations manager in New London, CT. During his work in Waterville, ME, he met and married Marilyn R. Jacques. They immediately moved to Glens Falls where their son, Peter F. King arrived. Returning to Delaware in 1966 he worked for NVF Company as plant accounting manager of their Yorklyn facility; then plant accounting manager for Congoleum Industries in Marcus Hook, PA, and Controller for Norwood Industries and Wilmington Chemical Co. He retired from Mannington Mills in Salem, NJ. in 1996 as cost accounting manager after 16 years.

His associations include Institute of Management Accountants; Treasurer of Civic Association of Deacons Walk, Meeting House Hill Swim Club, Mount St. Mary's University - Delaware Alumni Chapter, and the Henry Clay Historical Society. Phil was a Cub Scout den leader in the Boy Scouts and an avid tennis player. He was a coach in the Newark Little League, taught night time adult education classes in bridge for New Castle County, and was founder and director of the Pike Creek Valley bridge league which held weekly duplicate bridge games in the Pike Creek area. He also was a lifetime member and volunteer at the Newark Senior Center.

In 1978, with the arrival of son, Patrick Flynn King, his wife told him he would have to give up some activities. His favorite hobby was playing poker in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Delaware Park. Phil was also a long time member of the Tuesday Night Gents poker club which he joined in 1973 and continued until his luck ran out. He was also a member of breakfast with the boys at Mary's Kountry Kitchen and a member of Planet Fitness Health Club. Other hobbies included daily crossword and Sudoku puzzles. He was a big Phillies and Eagles fan; and loved to watch good tennis matches and Delaware football.

Phil and his wife, Marilyn enjoyed many years of traveling. They took trips to all parts of the country. They also traveled to Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, France, Mexico, Nova Scotia, Nassau and Bermuda. One of their favorite vacations was a dude ranch in Montana where they enjoyed horseback riding, trail hiking and white water rafting. Phil also enjoyed snorkeling in Nassau, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Florida. He was a member of Holy Angles Church in Newark. He was very proud of his two sons and always encouraged them onward and upward and wanted nothing but the best for them. They took many trips together as a family and he encouraged them to explore the world. He enjoyed all the time he spent with his grandson, Preston, who spent many summers with Phil and Marilyn. He was truly a joy.

In addition to his parents, Phil was predeceased by his brother, Paul King Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his sons, Peter and Flynn; and his grandson, Preston.

A Mass of Christian will be celebrated at 11:00am on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Holy Angels Church, 82 Possum Park Road, Newark, DE 19711, where family and friends may visit beginning at 9:30am. Interment will be held in All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Phil would want you to do something nice for someone. In the spirit of the Lenten season, please omit flowers and pay it forward in his memory.