Walter Wheeler King

1933 - 2026

Walter Wheeler King

Hanover, NH - Walter Wheeler King, 92, passed peacefully on January 17, 2026, with family at his side, in Hanover, NH. Walter was born in Plainfield, NH on November 20, 1933, to Clarence W. King and Flora B. Rogers King. He was the sixth of eight children; he was predeceased by Steven, Everett, Helen, Flora, Fred, and Warren. The King family dairy at the Black Hill 4 Corners Farm ran until 1965 and he was the last son to run the farm.

He attended Plainfield Plain Elementary School through eighth grade and then attended West Lebanon High School, graduating in 1952. Walter was involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America during his school years. He was an active member of the West Lebanon Alumni Association for many years following graduation.

Walter married Jeannette Langley in 1955 and is survived by their three children, Maureen King and husband Marc Feldman, Sonya Campbell and husband Michael Campbell, and Glenn King and wife Anne Downey; grandchildren Larissa Pyer, Spencer Lemay, Abraham Feldman, Katharine Feldman, Bryce Campbell, Guinevere Downey, Adelaide Downey, and Eleanor Downey; and six great grandchildren. He is survived by his sister, Doris Mae King Holbrook (age 100) and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

After the sale of the family farm in 1965, Walter worked for Split Ball Bearing. He took courses in drafting at Lebanon College. In 1970, he began work as a transportation inspector for the Public Utilities Commission of the State of New Hampshire. He became the state's only railroad inspector which entailed summer trips up the Cog Railway (with one child "assisting" on each trip) along with inspecting other rail lines in NH. In 1986, he transferred to the Department of Transportation and retired in 1993.

Walter was raised a Master Mason in 1965, along with his father in Cheshire Lodge No. 23 in Cornish Flat, and affiliated as a dual member with Social Summit Lodge No. 50 in Canaan in 1976. He served as Master in 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, and 1992. He joined the Scottish Rite bodies in 1972 in the Valley of Concord and the NH Consistory.

While living in Canaan from 1967 to 1982, Walter served six years as town selectman. He served on other town committees and as Moderator for School and Town Meetings. He was also active as a 4-H and Cub Scout leader. Walter moved to Concord in 1982.

In 1986, Walter began operating an existing campground in Barrington, NH, and stayed on until 2002 to assist the owners, while making Ayers Lake his summer home. He married Pearl Yeaton Gazaway on October 4, 1993, in Concord. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were close by and visited often. Pearl and Walter began wintering in Florida, purchased a home there, and by 2002 were spending most of the year there. Walter was active in the local "New Hampshire Club", serving as President and enjoying the company of other transplanted New Hampshirites. They moved back to Concord in 2024 and Pearl passed away in August 2025 after a brief battle with cancer.

In addition to renovating and building several family homes, Walter always kept busy fixing things, building clocks and small furniture, and tracing the family genealogy. He had amassed quite a lot of information about the King and Rogers families.

Walter planted large vegetable gardens wherever he lived and taught his children how to care for plants. In Florida, he became a rose gardener with many types of roses growing around his property. He made root beer and a summer wasn't quite complete without an exploding bottle of fermented root beer jostled in the trunk of a car on its way to a summer cookout.

Walter was an avid square dancer, and started calling square dances in high school. He continued calling for about 15 years. He had a large record collection of country music and his car radio was always tuned to a country music station. He played guitar. He encouraged his children to participate in music at school and church. Walter enjoyed playing cribbage, poker, rummy, checkers, and Mexican train dominoes, and taught most of the grandchildren. He enjoyed beating them but was always pleased when they started winning.

The family extends grateful appreciation to the caring staff at Concord Hospital, Hanover Terrace, and Bayada Hospice who helped care for Walter during his last months.

In lieu of flowers, please share a bouquet of his favorite roses with a friend in need, or make a monetary donation to Friends of Mascoma Foundation https://friendsofmascoma.org/donate or to the Grand Lodge of NH Masonic Charity Fund https://www.nhgrandlodge.org/product/nh-masonic-charity-fund-donation/ .

Calling hours and services will be hosted by Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School Street, Lebanon, NH, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, beginning at 11 AM, with a celebration of life service and a Masonic service beginning at noon. Interment will be held privately in the spring.