Obituary of Clarence King

Clarence “Ted” King passed away September 5, 2018 in Olympia, Washington, his home of 21 years.  He was born October 24, 1933 to Clarence Mark and Amy (Phyrne) King.

 

As a young boy, Ted loved animals and learned the value of work as a young boy by raising and caring for chickens and pigeons in his family yard.  

 

Ted loved all things that were mechanical and, when he was a teen, he put a motor on a bicycle and accidentally rode it into a brick wall.  He spent time in a body cast but that didn’t deter him from his love of motors.  He restored a Model A and a1959 Corvette that he loved to drive at breakneck speeds though the Southern California canyons.  He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1951, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.  

 

While raising his children, Ted enjoyed driving speedboats and skiing with friends and family at the Colorado River.  He was known for his pool parties at his home in the San Fernando Valley. Going to speedway motorcycle races, watching drag races and riding motorcycles in the desert also were hobbies Ted enjoyed. He taught his children to value outdoor activities and sports by taking them camping in the National Parks.

 

He worked as mechanical engineer at Litton Industries for his entire career and then retired to Olympia.  He enjoyed using his hands to restore British motorcycles and was a member of the VME Motorcycle club.  A highlight for Ted was attending motorcycle meetings and eating breakfast, visiting with his friends, and sharing information about vintage motorcycles.  He was proud to show several of his vintage motorcycles at the LeMay Museum in Tacoma.

 

He used his hands to do upholstery for cars and motorcycles and was an excellent woodworker who completed any project he attempted with perfection. If he didn’t know how to do something, he would teach himself how to do it.

 

Ted also was passionate about sports.  He enjoyed watching football and seeing his grandchildren play soccer, football and softball.  He was a proud supporter of Tumwater High School football and softball and enjoyed going to games.

 

Ted will be remembered for his great sense of humor, as well as his hardworking, kind and generous nature and will be greatly missed. Ted is survived by his wife, Jane King of Olympia; daughters, Tammy (and Ron) VanderLugt of Olympia, Nancy (and Brad) Huddleston of Frankfort, Kansas, Michelle (and Brett) Meehan of Agoura Hills, California, and Erika King of Hawthorne, California; nine grandchildren; five great grandchildren; brothers, Robert King and Richard King, both of California; and sister, Ardeth Haddow of Arizona.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ted’s name to the Alzheimer's Foundations of America.  

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