David C. King

David C. King March 8, 1926 ~ September 6, 2009 MONMOUTH - David C. King of Monmouth, died peacefully at home on Sunday, September 6, 2009. He was 83. David was born in Berea, Ohio on March 8, 1926 to Claude and Elsie King, the fourth of six children. He graduated from Berea High School in 1944 and was drafted into the U.S. Army that same year. He served as a foot soldier with the Americal Division in the Phillipines on Cebu Island. At the end of the war he was sent to Japan as part of the occupation forces, serving with the 11th Airborne Division in Sendia. He was discharged from the army in November 1946 with the rank of Tec4 (Sergeant). He attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and then Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western University) in Cleveland, Ohio on the G.I. Bill. He graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He received a Master of Science degree from Oregon State University in 1978. David's work as an engineer was almost exclusively in the nuclear industry, working both for the government and for private contractors, all across the country. He worked for Dupont (1951), Pratt & Whitney (1952-54), Phillips Petroleum Materials Test Reactor (1954-60), the Atomic Energy Commission (1960-68), EBASCO (1968-70), Westinghouse Hanford (1970-82), and the U.S. Department of Energy (1982-88) -- from South Carolina to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to Idaho Falls, Idaho to Richland, Washington. At his retirement in 1988, David moved to Monmouth with his second wife, JoAnn Gayler Grund King, whom he had married in 1983. They quickly became involved serving the community. David was a member of Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United where he served on almost every committee over the years, as well as being co-leader of the Stephen Ministry caregiving program and participating in many mission trips. He was also an active volunteer with Fellowship House Ecumenical Campus Ministry at Western Oregon University, Gentle House historic home at WOU, WOU Emeritus Society, Polk County Historical Society, Brunk House PCHS historic farm, Salem Chapter of the American Red Cross, Polk County Habitat for Humanity, Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Monmouth/Independence, Heifer International, and the Polk County Democrats. In recognition of the service David and JoAnn have provided to the community over the years, they were honored with the Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce First Citizen Award in 2002. David's passions were his family, his church, peacemaking, and social justice. These interests kept him alert to and active in politics as well. He was a founding member of the World Citizens for Peace group in Richland, Wash. Of his work for peace and social justice, he wrote, "I don't know if that kind of protest and prayers does any good, but it is so easy for people to be nationalistic and cheer for the home team and get caught up in the drum beat of war that I think a constant voice for peace is needed." David was one of those constant voices. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; by his sisters, Helen King Sheldon and Donna King Hoch; by his brother Richard King; by his son Corbin Clark King; and by his grandson Joseph Grund. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, JoAnn Gayler Grund King; by his first wife, Christine Loos King; by daughters Addison and Leslie and their husbands, Don Jacobs and Bob Swartz; by son Marshall and his wife Nancy Lynn King; by daughter-in-law Julia Simpson King; by stepdaughter Linda and her husband Howard Grund-Clampit; by stepsons Curtis and John and their wives, Grace Chow Grund and Jennifer Much Grund; and by 16 grandchildren; Brianna Swartz and husband Ashwin Prasad, Jesse Jacobs, Shelly Jacobs, Adrian Swartz, Maxwell King, Adam Grund-Clampit, Benjamin Grund, Riley King, Nathan King, Molly Grund, Miles King, Samuel Grund, Marilee King, John Grund, Willa Grund, and Hayden Grund. A memorial service for David C. King will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, September 14, 2009 at Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United, 412 W. Clay St., Monmouth, Oregon 97361. The church's phone number is 503-838-1724. If you would like to make a donation to honor David's memory, his family makes the following suggestions: 1) the building fund of Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian United, 2) your favorite organization that works for peace or to eliminate hunger, 3) any organization working on racial justice, such as the NAACP, the Black College Fund, or the Southern Poverty Law Center.