John Stewart King

John Stewart King, 89, of Cincinnatus, NY, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at his home.

Born in Cincinnatus, NY on June 11, 1922, John was a son of the late John D. and Esther Jerlean Gillum King. A lifelong resident, he was veteran of WWII, having served in the U.S. Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1946. While in the military, he was a bass violin and bass horn player for the 548 Army Air Corp Band in the South Pacific. After the service, he was a bass player and drum major for the Cincinnatus Civic Band. He was a member of the American Legion Post #1, Albany and member and Past Master of the Otselic Valley #659 F&AM. He was also a member of the Cincinnatus Fire Department and was active as a Little League coach and scout master. He served on the Cincinnatus Youth Commission which was instrumental in the installation of the Cincinnatus swimming pool and helped to build the original nativity scene which can still be found outside of Heritage Hall each Christmas. He retired from Tioga Auto Parts, Tioga Center, in 1986 where he worked as the inventory control manager.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley King, of Cincinnatus, and his children, Eric (Susan) King of Tallahassee, FL, Jan (Larry) Pudney of Mesa, AZ, and Brad King of Gloversville; and his stepchildren, Jeffrey (Lauri) Smith, Zachary (Connie) Smith, Jacqueline (Randy) Closson, and Melanie (Tim) Campbell, all of Cincinnatus, and Mandy (Gary) Astles of Trumansburg. He also leaves behind a sister, Dorothy McNally of Cincinnatus; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; 15 step-grandchildren; 12 step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Barbara, in 2003; a son, Adam, in 2008; a sister, Margaret Klumpp in 2008; and a brother, Gordon King, in 2011.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., at Heritage Hall with Fred M.S. Downs officiating. The family will be present to receive friends at the K.L. Sharp Funeral Home on Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a Masonic Service to be held at 7:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy in memory of John may be directed to the Cincinnatus Emergency Squad, c/o Elaine Oros, 5771 McFarlane Road, Cincinnatus, NY 13040 or the family has requested that, if possible, a donation of blood be made to the American Red Cross to help save a life.