Oct. 27, 1928 ~ Feb. 20, 2024
Robert King went peacefully on the morning of Feb. 20, 2024. He received a cochlear implant (hearing solution) to live a fuller life on Dec. 15. He wanted to hear on the phone and in person better. Bob was a prolific storyteller and inquisitor. Hearing mattered to Bob. And Bob was still driving his car in December. Just two days after his cochlear implant on Dec. 17, Bob had his first stroke. After rehabbing most of the way (positive and focused on getting better) he had a second stroke on Feb. 13. It proved to be his time. He was the MAN and leader in the King family as a husband, brother, father and grandfather. He was adored by his nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins whom he loved throughout.
Bob was a mentor in life, academics, and in business to many. Loved by all is an understatement. Respected by everyone. He was 95 years old. Born in Blanca, Colorado, as the 12th of 12 children on Oct. 27, 1928 (all preceded him in death). He was a miracle baby as his mother was 49 years of age. His parents were mother Agnes Calkins King (one-room schoolteacher and homemaker) and father Coley Marshall King (rancher and customer team horse hay contractor). The King family had homesteaded in the San Luis Valley of Colorado in the 1870s after immigrating there from Northeast Georgia where they had lived near the Chattahoochee River. The Kings established a homestead on the side of Mount Blanca and eventually a cattle operation in the valley. Robert went to school at Blanca Elementary and eventually graduated from Alamosa High School nearby. After returning from the Marines in 1947, he attended and received his master’s degree in school administration from Adams State College where he met and married Margaret McCollum. He began his career near Alamosa in Blanca teaching and then became principal of Sangre de Cristo Schools at age 28.
He was married for 72 years to Margaret King. Margaret passed away on June 11, 2022. Bob and Margaret had four children: Laurie (North Carolina), David (Colorado), Kathy (Colorado) and Coley (California); eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren. He lived in the San Luis Valley of Colorado for 32 years; 29 years as the respected superintendent and track coach in Meeker, Colorado, where he raised his family; (the Bob King Track at Meeker High School is named for him); two years retired in Grand Junction, Colorado; and the past 32 years in retirement and volunteering in Fort Collins. He was near many of his offspring every day in Fort Collins. The past three years he has been under the loving care of his grandson. then granddaughter Amy and great-granddaughters in his own home.
A proud Marine through and through. A National Park Service summer crew member. Driver at age 10. Car lover and fixer-upper. A Coach. Sports lover. A teacher. An academic. A track meet organizer. A poet. A believer in all people and possibilities. A lover of Sam’s Club. A man who loved gadgets. Arrowheads. A hunter. An outdoorsman. A hiker. Lover of literature and English. Teacher of challenged learners. And in the best way a lover of all religions, ethnic groups, types of people and his offspring. A beacon of positivity every day of his life towards all-comers.
Services are to be held on June 14 at 12 p.m. at 7852 Vantage View Place in Fort Collins, Colorado, followed on June 15 at 2 p.m. by a local service and military burial service at the King Family Cemetery (Urraca on Mount Blanca) in the San Luis Valley near Alamosa. He and his wife Margaret’s ashes will be buried together that day.
Donations can be made to Saints of Fort Collins in lieu of flowers; Saint Volunteer Transportation at 333 W. Drake Rd. #42, Fort Collins Co 80526. Bob was a Saint driver until age 91.
Robert Eugene King. One of the good ones!
