Obituary of John King

John R. King Elmira: marked his 96th birthday on April 4, 2011, with a celebration of his life that continued with family and friends until his death on April 14. The youngest of nine children, he was born in Susquehanna, PA, to the late Michael and Ida (Wank) King. He is pre-deceased by all of his brothers and sisters. He married the late M. Madeline Gavigan of Binghamton on Sept. 19, 1942, and is survived and loved by their children, Karen (William) Waffner of East Aurora, NY; Kathleen (George) Macko of Naperville, IL; Dennis M. King of Elmira; and Christina Poliseo (William) of Littleton, CO. Also, grandchildren, W. Todd (Jill), Kathleen (Kevin Murphy), and Dr. Eric (Jennifer) Waffner; Adam (Allina), J. Tynan, and Charles Macko; and Gregory and Emily Poliseo; along with great-grandchildren, Ella and Madeline Waffner and Willa and Simon Murphy. He was a fond uncle to many nieces and nephews. John attended Lowell Business School in Binghamton and joined IBM in Endicott in 1937. He was drafted into the US Army in 1941. He graduated from Officers Candidate School in 1942 and was assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, 36th Quartermaster Co., Camp Blanding, FL. He was deployed to South Africa in April 1943. During the course of WWII, John rose to the rank of Major, participating in five battle campaigns: Naples-Foggia-Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; Rhineland; and Central Europe. Injured while crossing into Germany in 1945, he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service and returned home on a hospital ship. Employed by IBM for 43 years, he retired from the Elmira office in 1980 and together with wife Madeline enjoyed several years of travel throughout the USA. A loving husband of 58 years, he was an outstanding father who taught by example, inspiring his family with his positive attitude, humor, hard work, faith, and love of learning. John was an active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Msgr. John J. Lee Division, and in earlier years, the Kiwanis Club. He volunteered in many ways including at his church, Our Lady of Lourdes, the soup kitchen at St. Peter and Paul Church, and Meals on Wheels with wife Madeline. He was an accomplished golfer, an avid reader, a proponent of conservation and a life-long student of nature and history. Friends are invited to visit with John's family on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1100 W. Church St., Elmira, beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Interment, with military honors, will be at St. Peter & Paul's Cemetery immediately following the service.