Obituary of Conrad R. King

Conrad "Connie" Richard King Conrad R. King, 91, of 4772 Hunt Road, Ashville, NY, passed away Friday afternoon, February 19, 2016, in the Lutheran Nursing Home, Jamestown, NY. Although a Lifelong resident of Ashville, Connie was born at the home of his grandparents, Henry and Mary Lucas, in Panama, NY on May 28, 1924, the son of Paul H. King and Eva Lucas King. Soon after his birth the family moved to Ashville, where he spent the rest of his life. He attended school at Ashville Union Free School and graduated from Lakewood High School. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy and served aboard the battleship USS South Dakota during World War II. The ship operated in the South Pacific throughout the war and was credited with shooting down 64 enemy aircraft, sinking 3 ships, and was involved in 9 shore bombardments. The South Dakota was Admiral Halsey's Flag ship. At the end of the war, the South Dakota was tied up alongside the USS Missouri for the signing of the Peace Treaty. Connie was on deck as a witness of the signing. Following the war, Conrad reunited with Betty Bush, a longtime friend, and married her on June 8, 1946. They were devoted parents of 4 sons, grandparents of 8, and great grandparents of 11. They were extremely happy to be with the entire family in their home for Christmas this past year. Connie lost his wife of 69 years, Betty, December 28, 2015, and today they have reunited in their eternal home as promised by their Savior Jesus Christ. After returning from service in the US Navy, Connie went to work for a short time as a teller at the Bank of Jamestown. Connie's father, Paul King, had started a heating business in Falconer and encouraged Connie to join him in that business late in 1946. Connie built Kings' Heating and Sheet Metal from a small residential heating business into a much larger commercial and industrial business. As his 4 sons graduated from school he was very proud to share the business with each of them. Conrad and Betty ran the business until their retirement in 1986, at which time their 4 sons took over the business. In retirement, Conrad and Betty traveled to many places throughout the world. They visited Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, many of the Caribbean Islands, and all 50 States. Also following retirement, they bought a 2nd home in Bradenton, Florida, where they spent 6 months a year for the next 15 years. Conrad was a lifelong member of the Ashville United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, was a youth leader and teacher, and was a very active member of the board. He was a United Methodist Conference Lay Speaker, and Jamestown District Lay Leader. He also made 9 short term mission trips. These include rebuilding a home in South Carolina following hurricane Hugo; construction of a hospital in Burundi, Africa; a missions station in Panama City, Panama; a school in Zimbabwe, Africa; a school in Iballin, Palestine; finishing a Seminary School building in Uganda, Africa; work on a Church in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; a mission house in San Jose, Costa Rica; and a mission house in Estonia on the Baltic Sea. Connie was a member of the Panama Central School Board for 30 years, serving as President for 13 years. He also served as a member and president on the Chautauqua County School Boards Association, Chautauqua BOCES Board, and Chautauqua-Erie BOCES Board. He was also a member and president of the Gideon's of Jamestown, Board of Directors for the Jamestown City Mission, the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee for sheet metal workers, Panama P.T.A., Jamestown Area Mechanical Contractors Association, Methodist Gardens Building Committee, and the Falconer Rotary Club. He served as Trustee for the Children's Home in Buffalo, NY, New York State Rural Schools, and the River Isles Board in Bradenton, FL, he was a Boy Scout Councilman, and a member of the Falconer Lions Club. He was an avid golfer and bowler. He was also a member of the Jamestown Harmony express Barbershop chorus for 28 years, and sang with a Barbershop octet called the "Silvertones". Besides his wife, Betty, Conrad was preceded in death by his parents, Paul H. King and Eva Lucas King, of Ashville, NY; a sister, Marabel (Edward) Turner of Ashville, NY; a son, Douglas C. King, of Ashville, NY; and daughter-in-law, Lori C. King (Terry), of Ashville, NY. He is survived by his 3 sons, David P. (Alby) King, Ashville, NY; Leslie M. (Kimberly) King, Ashville, NY; Terry R. (Connie) King, Ashville, NY; Douglas's wife (P. Deborah) King, Ashville, NY; 8 grandchildren, D. Wayne King, Jamestown, NY; Michael S. (Erica) King, Ashville, NY; William D. (Jamie) King, Ashville, NY; Sarah A.(Jason) Tonon, Jamestown, NY; Stefanie K. (Anthony) Lizauckas, Buffalo, NY; Corinne R. King, Somerville, MA; Erin D. (Matthew) Carnes, Lakewood, NY; Shannen L. (James) Colton, Hamburg, NY; and 11 great grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Ashville United Methodist Church. The Rev. Nicholas Perry, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Ashville United Methodist Church, 2180 N. Maple Ave., Ashville, NY 14710, or the Jamestown Gideons, PO Box 3373, Jamestown NY 14702-3373.