George Parker King, EGFD (Ret.) By John and Helen King McGah George P. King, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, and as many in East Greenwich knew him, "Uncle George", passed away on Dec. 7, 2015. George was 92 and with that span of years he witnessed and accomplished much. George was born in Exeter but grew up in East Greenwich with his parents, Hannah and Carl, one sister Margaret, and 4 brothers, Matthew, Francis, Paul, & Carl. He attended East Greenwich schools and La Salle Academy. George was raised in Our Lady of Mercy parish and is remembered even in later adult years as being a daily communicant there.
Like many, George was deeply affected and formed by the events of his time. Young George at 17 was a "CCC Boy". He credited President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps with preparing him for Army life which was soon to come. In an interview with veterans in 2009, George told of hearing of the Pearl Harbor attack at the E.G. Fire Station where not many of the guys, like the rest of the country, knew "where the hell Pearl Harbor was". After this shocking day George continued his work making Quonset Huts at the Quonset Naval Point Naval Air Station in North Kingstown but ....not for long, for on February 25, 1942 at 18, George enlisted in the US Army. He served in the Pacific theater of operations from May 22, 1942 until September 9, 1945. Besides the momentous nature of his historic beginning as a US Army communications signalman, this was the day he was to meet his lifelong friend and fellow recruit, Russell Casey. George participated in campaigns in Dutch New Guinea, Leyte, Butaan,& Mindanao. It was rather fitting that this man of the "greatest generation" left us on a "Day that will Live in Infamy", Pearl Harbor Day. George's devotion to his 24th Infantry division and his pal, Russell, continued throughout the rest of his life as he enjoyed attending his unit's reunions throughout the country. At the end of the war George returned to the East Greenwich Fire Department where he had been in the first junior fireman class in 1941. He was a life member and past president of EG Fire Department Station 1. He was a life member and past president of the EG Veteran Fireman's Association and a life member and past president of the NE States Veteran Fire Association and life member of RI State Fireman's League.
When George's sister, Margaret and her husband Pat Petteruti passed away, George accepted the responsibility, as a 37 year old, of raising nieces Mary and Bunny and nephew Paul, while providing for the care of his parents. Later in life, George, was to marry his long ago sweetheart, town pharmacist, Jane Kelly Wynne, the love of his life. The wedding day was marked with the happy couple whisked through town to their reception on a fire engine. George's family now also included Jane's daughter, Susan and son, Christopher. Soon after, Jane and George were to welcome a new son, Kevin Michael.
Over these many, busy years of dispatching fire fighters, fighting fires and later raising 2 families, George could be found pumping the old Volunteer fire engine at musters, playing softball, playing his beloved games of cribbage, attending Theater By the Sea, playing Trivial Pursuit, chairing the search committee to secure and build a facility for the EG Veteran's Fireman's Association Club, getting to Cape Cod whenever possible and traveling to Massachusetts to enjoy visits with his "big brother", Matt's family and his dearly loved cousin, Ann Sheehan, and her family. George was proud of his membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants, RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the CCC organization, the 24th Infantry Division, & the East Greenwich Historical Society. In his last 4 years George followed his friend, Russell, to Greenwich Farms Assisted Living where he was considered a great guy by many of the staff and residents. He was equally loved by staff members at his nursing home of choice, Sunny View.
George is survived by his wife Nancy Jane, children Kevin, Susan Schrier and her husband Eric, Christoper Wynne, Bunny Petteruti, & Mary Petteruti -Shultz and her husband, Robert and son, Christian, grandchildren Joseph Barbera, Mark Barbera and his wife, Kate, and Alex and Sarah Schrier. George was predeceased by his sister and all his brothers, and by Paul Petteruti. Around town and at the fire station, George was known by many as "Uncle George" because of the many nieces and nephews and their children devoted to him, could be found in and around the fire station. These included many Kings, Petterutis, Shultz, McGahs, Grabelskis, Bourgeois, Sheehans, Rhodes, & Carusos. Uncle George played a major role in the lives of ALL these "kids" and their "kids". He was UNCLE, ...GREAT-UNCLE, ...and even GREAT-GREAT-UNCLE to William, Caroline, Ethan, Noelle, Aydan, Jack, & Kyle. Uncle George is remembered for creating a special bond with each of his nieces and nephews even writing to one great niece as she studied abroad and being available to all the younger generation as they interviewed him for school assignments.
George King was man of strong opinions, he was a lover of history, he was a generous man who supported over 20 charities, a humble man who even shied away from the attention of a traditional wake and eulogy. He modeled for all the family what one does when the family is in need. He stepped up! Though he was shaped by the events of his time he even shied away from the very term "greatest generation". In the aforementioned interview of veterans done by Lee L. Willis for the Florida State University Institute on World War II, George told Willis "...I think every generation had a time when that generation was known for something or other. That just happened to be our time. It's something you don't want to do again, at least I never did. It was something that had to be done and we did it." He certainly did!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 11th at 9:00AM at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial with military honors will be in RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Memorials in his name may be made to the Dana Farber Institute.
Sourchttp://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=a869379466e:
Like many, George was deeply affected and formed by the events of his time. Young George at 17 was a "CCC Boy". He credited President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps with preparing him for Army life which was soon to come. In an interview with veterans in 2009, George told of hearing of the Pearl Harbor attack at the E.G. Fire Station where not many of the guys, like the rest of the country, knew "where the hell Pearl Harbor was". After this shocking day George continued his work making Quonset Huts at the Quonset Naval Point Naval Air Station in North Kingstown but ....not for long, for on February 25, 1942 at 18, George enlisted in the US Army. He served in the Pacific theater of operations from May 22, 1942 until September 9, 1945. Besides the momentous nature of his historic beginning as a US Army communications signalman, this was the day he was to meet his lifelong friend and fellow recruit, Russell Casey. George participated in campaigns in Dutch New Guinea, Leyte, Butaan,& Mindanao. It was rather fitting that this man of the "greatest generation" left us on a "Day that will Live in Infamy", Pearl Harbor Day. George's devotion to his 24th Infantry division and his pal, Russell, continued throughout the rest of his life as he enjoyed attending his unit's reunions throughout the country. At the end of the war George returned to the East Greenwich Fire Department where he had been in the first junior fireman class in 1941. He was a life member and past president of EG Fire Department Station 1. He was a life member and past president of the EG Veteran Fireman's Association and a life member and past president of the NE States Veteran Fire Association and life member of RI State Fireman's League.
When George's sister, Margaret and her husband Pat Petteruti passed away, George accepted the responsibility, as a 37 year old, of raising nieces Mary and Bunny and nephew Paul, while providing for the care of his parents. Later in life, George, was to marry his long ago sweetheart, town pharmacist, Jane Kelly Wynne, the love of his life. The wedding day was marked with the happy couple whisked through town to their reception on a fire engine. George's family now also included Jane's daughter, Susan and son, Christopher. Soon after, Jane and George were to welcome a new son, Kevin Michael.
Over these many, busy years of dispatching fire fighters, fighting fires and later raising 2 families, George could be found pumping the old Volunteer fire engine at musters, playing softball, playing his beloved games of cribbage, attending Theater By the Sea, playing Trivial Pursuit, chairing the search committee to secure and build a facility for the EG Veteran's Fireman's Association Club, getting to Cape Cod whenever possible and traveling to Massachusetts to enjoy visits with his "big brother", Matt's family and his dearly loved cousin, Ann Sheehan, and her family. George was proud of his membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants, RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the CCC organization, the 24th Infantry Division, & the East Greenwich Historical Society. In his last 4 years George followed his friend, Russell, to Greenwich Farms Assisted Living where he was considered a great guy by many of the staff and residents. He was equally loved by staff members at his nursing home of choice, Sunny View.
George is survived by his wife Nancy Jane, children Kevin, Susan Schrier and her husband Eric, Christoper Wynne, Bunny Petteruti, & Mary Petteruti -Shultz and her husband, Robert and son, Christian, grandchildren Joseph Barbera, Mark Barbera and his wife, Kate, and Alex and Sarah Schrier. George was predeceased by his sister and all his brothers, and by Paul Petteruti. Around town and at the fire station, George was known by many as "Uncle George" because of the many nieces and nephews and their children devoted to him, could be found in and around the fire station. These included many Kings, Petterutis, Shultz, McGahs, Grabelskis, Bourgeois, Sheehans, Rhodes, & Carusos. Uncle George played a major role in the lives of ALL these "kids" and their "kids". He was UNCLE, ...GREAT-UNCLE, ...and even GREAT-GREAT-UNCLE to William, Caroline, Ethan, Noelle, Aydan, Jack, & Kyle. Uncle George is remembered for creating a special bond with each of his nieces and nephews even writing to one great niece as she studied abroad and being available to all the younger generation as they interviewed him for school assignments.
George King was man of strong opinions, he was a lover of history, he was a generous man who supported over 20 charities, a humble man who even shied away from the attention of a traditional wake and eulogy. He modeled for all the family what one does when the family is in need. He stepped up! Though he was shaped by the events of his time he even shied away from the very term "greatest generation". In the aforementioned interview of veterans done by Lee L. Willis for the Florida State University Institute on World War II, George told Willis "...I think every generation had a time when that generation was known for something or other. That just happened to be our time. It's something you don't want to do again, at least I never did. It was something that had to be done and we did it." He certainly did!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 11th at 9:00AM at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial with military honors will be in RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Memorials in his name may be made to the Dana Farber Institute.
Sourchttp://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=a869379466e:
George Parker King, EGFD (Ret.) By John and Helen King McGah George P. King, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, and as many in East Greenwich knew him, "Uncle George", passed away on Dec. 7, 2015. George was 92 and with that span of years he witnessed and accomplished much. George was born in Exeter but grew up in East Greenwich with his parents, Hannah and Carl, one sister Margaret, and 4 brothers, Matthew, Francis, Paul, & Carl. He attended East Greenwich schools and La Salle Academy. George was raised in Our Lady of Mercy parish and is remembered even in later adult years as being a daily communicant there.
Like many, George was deeply affected and formed by the events of his time. Young George at 17 was a "CCC Boy". He credited President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps with preparing him for Army life which was soon to come. In an interview with veterans in 2009, George told of hearing of the Pearl Harbor attack at the E.G. Fire Station where not many of the guys, like the rest of the country, knew "where the hell Pearl Harbor was". After this shocking day George continued his work making Quonset Huts at the Quonset Naval Point Naval Air Station in North Kingstown but ....not for long, for on February 25, 1942 at 18, George enlisted in the US Army. He served in the Pacific theater of operations from May 22, 1942 until September 9, 1945. Besides the momentous nature of his historic beginning as a US Army communications signalman, this was the day he was to meet his lifelong friend and fellow recruit, Russell Casey. George participated in campaigns in Dutch New Guinea, Leyte, Butaan,& Mindanao. It was rather fitting that this man of the "greatest generation" left us on a "Day that will Live in Infamy", Pearl Harbor Day. George's devotion to his 24th Infantry division and his pal, Russell, continued throughout the rest of his life as he enjoyed attending his unit's reunions throughout the country. At the end of the war George returned to the East Greenwich Fire Department where he had been in the first junior fireman class in 1941. He was a life member and past president of EG Fire Department Station 1. He was a life member and past president of the EG Veteran Fireman's Association and a life member and past president of the NE States Veteran Fire Association and life member of RI State Fireman's League.
When George's sister, Margaret and her husband Pat Petteruti passed away, George accepted the responsibility, as a 37 year old, of raising nieces Mary and Bunny and nephew Paul, while providing for the care of his parents. Later in life, George, was to marry his long ago sweetheart, town pharmacist, Jane Kelly Wynne, the love of his life. The wedding day was marked with the happy couple whisked through town to their reception on a fire engine. George's family now also included Jane's daughter, Susan and son, Christopher. Soon after, Jane and George were to welcome a new son, Kevin Michael.
Over these many, busy years of dispatching fire fighters, fighting fires and later raising 2 families, George could be found pumping the old Volunteer fire engine at musters, playing softball, playing his beloved games of cribbage, attending Theater By the Sea, playing Trivial Pursuit, chairing the search committee to secure and build a facility for the EG Veteran's Fireman's Association Club, getting to Cape Cod whenever possible and traveling to Massachusetts to enjoy visits with his "big brother", Matt's family and his dearly loved cousin, Ann Sheehan, and her family. George was proud of his membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants, RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the CCC organization, the 24th Infantry Division, & the East Greenwich Historical Society. In his last 4 years George followed his friend, Russell, to Greenwich Farms Assisted Living where he was considered a great guy by many of the staff and residents. He was equally loved by staff members at his nursing home of choice, Sunny View.
George is survived by his wife Nancy Jane, children Kevin, Susan Schrier and her husband Eric, Christoper Wynne, Bunny Petteruti, & Mary Petteruti -Shultz and her husband, Robert and son, Christian, grandchildren Joseph Barbera, Mark Barbera and his wife, Kate, and Alex and Sarah Schrier. George was predeceased by his sister and all his brothers, and by Paul Petteruti. Around town and at the fire station, George was known by many as "Uncle George" because of the many nieces and nephews and their children devoted to him, could be found in and around the fire station. These included many Kings, Petterutis, Shultz, McGahs, Grabelskis, Bourgeois, Sheehans, Rhodes, & Carusos. Uncle George played a major role in the lives of ALL these "kids" and their "kids". He was UNCLE, ...GREAT-UNCLE, ...and even GREAT-GREAT-UNCLE to William, Caroline, Ethan, Noelle, Aydan, Jack, & Kyle. Uncle George is remembered for creating a special bond with each of his nieces and nephews even writing to one great niece as she studied abroad and being available to all the younger generation as they interviewed him for school assignments.
George King was man of strong opinions, he was a lover of history, he was a generous man who supported over 20 charities, a humble man who even shied away from the attention of a traditional wake and eulogy. He modeled for all the family what one does when the family is in need. He stepped up! Though he was shaped by the events of his time he even shied away from the very term "greatest generation". In the aforementioned interview of veterans done by Lee L. Willis for the Florida State University Institute on World War II, George told Willis "...I think every generation had a time when that generation was known for something or other. That just happened to be our time. It's something you don't want to do again, at least I never did. It was something that had to be done and we did it." He certainly did!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 11th at 9:00AM at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial with military honors will be in RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Memorials in his name may be made to the Dana Farber Institute.
Sourchttp://obituaries.expressionstributes.com/?o=a869379466e:
Like many, George was deeply affected and formed by the events of his time. Young George at 17 was a "CCC Boy". He credited President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps with preparing him for Army life which was soon to come. In an interview with veterans in 2009, George told of hearing of the Pearl Harbor attack at the E.G. Fire Station where not many of the guys, like the rest of the country, knew "where the hell Pearl Harbor was". After this shocking day George continued his work making Quonset Huts at the Quonset Naval Point Naval Air Station in North Kingstown but ....not for long, for on February 25, 1942 at 18, George enlisted in the US Army. He served in the Pacific theater of operations from May 22, 1942 until September 9, 1945. Besides the momentous nature of his historic beginning as a US Army communications signalman, this was the day he was to meet his lifelong friend and fellow recruit, Russell Casey. George participated in campaigns in Dutch New Guinea, Leyte, Butaan,& Mindanao. It was rather fitting that this man of the "greatest generation" left us on a "Day that will Live in Infamy", Pearl Harbor Day. George's devotion to his 24th Infantry division and his pal, Russell, continued throughout the rest of his life as he enjoyed attending his unit's reunions throughout the country. At the end of the war George returned to the East Greenwich Fire Department where he had been in the first junior fireman class in 1941. He was a life member and past president of EG Fire Department Station 1. He was a life member and past president of the EG Veteran Fireman's Association and a life member and past president of the NE States Veteran Fire Association and life member of RI State Fireman's League.
When George's sister, Margaret and her husband Pat Petteruti passed away, George accepted the responsibility, as a 37 year old, of raising nieces Mary and Bunny and nephew Paul, while providing for the care of his parents. Later in life, George, was to marry his long ago sweetheart, town pharmacist, Jane Kelly Wynne, the love of his life. The wedding day was marked with the happy couple whisked through town to their reception on a fire engine. George's family now also included Jane's daughter, Susan and son, Christopher. Soon after, Jane and George were to welcome a new son, Kevin Michael.
Over these many, busy years of dispatching fire fighters, fighting fires and later raising 2 families, George could be found pumping the old Volunteer fire engine at musters, playing softball, playing his beloved games of cribbage, attending Theater By the Sea, playing Trivial Pursuit, chairing the search committee to secure and build a facility for the EG Veteran's Fireman's Association Club, getting to Cape Cod whenever possible and traveling to Massachusetts to enjoy visits with his "big brother", Matt's family and his dearly loved cousin, Ann Sheehan, and her family. George was proud of his membership in the Society of Mayflower Descendants, RI Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the CCC organization, the 24th Infantry Division, & the East Greenwich Historical Society. In his last 4 years George followed his friend, Russell, to Greenwich Farms Assisted Living where he was considered a great guy by many of the staff and residents. He was equally loved by staff members at his nursing home of choice, Sunny View.
George is survived by his wife Nancy Jane, children Kevin, Susan Schrier and her husband Eric, Christoper Wynne, Bunny Petteruti, & Mary Petteruti -Shultz and her husband, Robert and son, Christian, grandchildren Joseph Barbera, Mark Barbera and his wife, Kate, and Alex and Sarah Schrier. George was predeceased by his sister and all his brothers, and by Paul Petteruti. Around town and at the fire station, George was known by many as "Uncle George" because of the many nieces and nephews and their children devoted to him, could be found in and around the fire station. These included many Kings, Petterutis, Shultz, McGahs, Grabelskis, Bourgeois, Sheehans, Rhodes, & Carusos. Uncle George played a major role in the lives of ALL these "kids" and their "kids". He was UNCLE, ...GREAT-UNCLE, ...and even GREAT-GREAT-UNCLE to William, Caroline, Ethan, Noelle, Aydan, Jack, & Kyle. Uncle George is remembered for creating a special bond with each of his nieces and nephews even writing to one great niece as she studied abroad and being available to all the younger generation as they interviewed him for school assignments.
George King was man of strong opinions, he was a lover of history, he was a generous man who supported over 20 charities, a humble man who even shied away from the attention of a traditional wake and eulogy. He modeled for all the family what one does when the family is in need. He stepped up! Though he was shaped by the events of his time he even shied away from the very term "greatest generation". In the aforementioned interview of veterans done by Lee L. Willis for the Florida State University Institute on World War II, George told Willis "...I think every generation had a time when that generation was known for something or other. That just happened to be our time. It's something you don't want to do again, at least I never did. It was something that had to be done and we did it." He certainly did!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 11th at 9:00AM at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial with military honors will be in RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Memorials in his name may be made to the Dana Farber Institute.
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KING
GEORGE P
TECH 4 USA
WORLD WAR II
1923-2015
Family Members
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