Robert "Bob" LeRoy King, 76, passed away peacefully December 25, 2014, after many years of battling with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), surrounded by his family. He was born January 6, 1938, the son of Louis and Doris (Waite) King.
Bob grew up in East Millinocket, Maine where he attended Schenck High School and spent the vast majority of his spare time in the great outdoors that he loved so much. After graduation, he joined the Air Force where he became a navigator and radio operator for several types of aircraft. After his honorable discharge, he received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine. After four years with Union Carbide in Illinois and New Jersey, Robert and his wife, Catherine (McDougall), moved back to Maine in 1968 where he was a Project Engineer with the University of Maine. In this role, Robert oversaw the construction and renovation of many university buildings and laboratories. He was particularly proud of overseeing the design and construction of the Campus Center at the University of Maine's Presque Isle campus. Among Bob’s many achievements during his 35 years with the University of Maine, he was nominated in 2000 by the Governor of the State of Maine, Angus King, to be a member of the Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety. Bob retired from the University of Maine in 2003.
Bob’s true love was the Maine outdoors which he shared passionately with his family and friends. He loved hunting and fishing of all types both inland and on the coast of Maine. In 1951, he helped his father, Louis, build a small camp on South Twin Lake in Northern Maine. This camp became home base for generations of Kings for their outdoor adventures. During his youth and early adulthood, he spent his time deer hunting, fly fishing and trapping with his father, Louis; friend, Kenny McAdam; grandfather, “Old” Norm Waite; uncles “Young” Norm Waite and Ralph McLaughlin. Once he had children of his own, his attention turned to passing on his love and knowledge of nature and his work ethic to them in the best way possible. Every weekend was filled with work and adventures to take full advantage of what every season of Maine had to offer, all aimed at hunting and gathering food for the freezer and cutting and splitting wood for the woodstove. His older children, Kenny, Scott and Tamera saw the bulk of the action in the early years with his younger son, David, being his faithful partner until the last days he spent in the great outdoors that he loved so much. The lessons he passed on to the next generation carry his spirit forward in its full brilliance and energy. Nothing showed this more than the support he received in his later years. A special mention must be made of the tireless energy and support that his daughter, Tamera, and her daughter, Rebecca “Becky” provided to Bob and Catherine. Catherine, Tamera and Becky were unbreakable in their support and they never left his side right to the end.
Bob’s love and intrinsic understanding of nature was only matched by his devotion to his family. Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years, Catherine; his son, Kenneth and wife Lucine King of Moorestown, New Jersey; daughter, Tamera of Hampden, ME, and son David of Portsmouth, NH; Five grandchildren, Rebecca, Robert James, Taline, Shannon, and Robert Nazareth; One great granddaughter, Madison Paige; his sister, Barbara and her husband, Dale Doughty of Farmington, ME; Several nieces, nephews and cousins. Bob also had many special friends including Kenny McAdam, his best friend since grade school, and his wife, Renate. Kenny was like a big brother to Bob and together with Bob’s father, Louis King, they had many adventures in and around South Twin Lake. In the later years, Bob was very fortunate to have a friend in Dale Parkhurst, his daughter Tamera’s partner, who was always ready to lend a hand and to provide companionship in times of need. Jeremy Hale, a life-long friend of Bob’s son, David, and a Pastor of Worship Arts at Presque Isle Wesleyan Church, will preside over the memorial service. Jeremy spent many hours fishing and hiking with Bob and David and the rest of the King family. In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by his son, Robert Scott King.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held 11am, Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St. Bangor. Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am. The family invites relatives and friends to share in conversation and refreshments immediately following the service at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St. Bangor.
The family wishes to thank the nursing and CNA staff of the Maine Veteran's Home for their kind and compassionate care. Those who wish to remember Bob in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Maine Veteran's Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401.
Bob grew up in East Millinocket, Maine where he attended Schenck High School and spent the vast majority of his spare time in the great outdoors that he loved so much. After graduation, he joined the Air Force where he became a navigator and radio operator for several types of aircraft. After his honorable discharge, he received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine. After four years with Union Carbide in Illinois and New Jersey, Robert and his wife, Catherine (McDougall), moved back to Maine in 1968 where he was a Project Engineer with the University of Maine. In this role, Robert oversaw the construction and renovation of many university buildings and laboratories. He was particularly proud of overseeing the design and construction of the Campus Center at the University of Maine's Presque Isle campus. Among Bob’s many achievements during his 35 years with the University of Maine, he was nominated in 2000 by the Governor of the State of Maine, Angus King, to be a member of the Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety. Bob retired from the University of Maine in 2003.
Bob’s true love was the Maine outdoors which he shared passionately with his family and friends. He loved hunting and fishing of all types both inland and on the coast of Maine. In 1951, he helped his father, Louis, build a small camp on South Twin Lake in Northern Maine. This camp became home base for generations of Kings for their outdoor adventures. During his youth and early adulthood, he spent his time deer hunting, fly fishing and trapping with his father, Louis; friend, Kenny McAdam; grandfather, “Old” Norm Waite; uncles “Young” Norm Waite and Ralph McLaughlin. Once he had children of his own, his attention turned to passing on his love and knowledge of nature and his work ethic to them in the best way possible. Every weekend was filled with work and adventures to take full advantage of what every season of Maine had to offer, all aimed at hunting and gathering food for the freezer and cutting and splitting wood for the woodstove. His older children, Kenny, Scott and Tamera saw the bulk of the action in the early years with his younger son, David, being his faithful partner until the last days he spent in the great outdoors that he loved so much. The lessons he passed on to the next generation carry his spirit forward in its full brilliance and energy. Nothing showed this more than the support he received in his later years. A special mention must be made of the tireless energy and support that his daughter, Tamera, and her daughter, Rebecca “Becky” provided to Bob and Catherine. Catherine, Tamera and Becky were unbreakable in their support and they never left his side right to the end.
Bob’s love and intrinsic understanding of nature was only matched by his devotion to his family. Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years, Catherine; his son, Kenneth and wife Lucine King of Moorestown, New Jersey; daughter, Tamera of Hampden, ME, and son David of Portsmouth, NH; Five grandchildren, Rebecca, Robert James, Taline, Shannon, and Robert Nazareth; One great granddaughter, Madison Paige; his sister, Barbara and her husband, Dale Doughty of Farmington, ME; Several nieces, nephews and cousins. Bob also had many special friends including Kenny McAdam, his best friend since grade school, and his wife, Renate. Kenny was like a big brother to Bob and together with Bob’s father, Louis King, they had many adventures in and around South Twin Lake. In the later years, Bob was very fortunate to have a friend in Dale Parkhurst, his daughter Tamera’s partner, who was always ready to lend a hand and to provide companionship in times of need. Jeremy Hale, a life-long friend of Bob’s son, David, and a Pastor of Worship Arts at Presque Isle Wesleyan Church, will preside over the memorial service. Jeremy spent many hours fishing and hiking with Bob and David and the rest of the King family. In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by his son, Robert Scott King.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held 11am, Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St. Bangor. Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am. The family invites relatives and friends to share in conversation and refreshments immediately following the service at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St. Bangor.
The family wishes to thank the nursing and CNA staff of the Maine Veteran's Home for their kind and compassionate care. Those who wish to remember Bob in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Maine Veteran's Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401.
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