Obituary of John Richard King

Our big brother John Richard King passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2020, three years and some months after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). John was the first of eight children born to Charles and Margaret King. He leaves behind his seven siblings: Barbara Daniel, Jim King, Tom King, Terry King, Pat King, Karen Allen and Steve King along with their spouses and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Margaret and Charles King and his beloved Lisa Vonderheit. John was born on April 10, 1942, in Texarkana, Mom’s hometown. Mom and Dad moved to Houston in 1943 and the family set down roots in the neighborhood of Garden Villas. John both appreciated and greatly benefited from his Catholic education. He attended both St. Christopher’s and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel elementary schools before Mt. Carmel High School; he then attended college at the Carmelite seminary in Niagara, Ontario and graduate school at Notre Dame. Paramount to John were God, his Catholic faith, and his family. John also loved adventure and found it as a ranch hand in Wyoming, trekking with Outward Bound in Idaho and Minnesota, volunteering with the Los Angeles Police Department, serving as an assistant track and football coach, riding the rails in the USA and Canada, and weekending in Lonesome Pine to get away from the LA crowds or all the way north to visit Lisa in Oregon. John was above all else a teacher. He taught English at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California for 50 years. His many teaching accolades include the following: a 2006 Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Los Angeles on his being honored in Gladstone’s of Malibu’s annual salute to "L.A.'s Most Inspirational Teacher”; the Encino Chamber of Commerce’s Teacher of the Year 2008-2009; Recognition by the California Legislature and Senate in the 15th Annual Teacher of the Year Award in 2009; and also in 2009 a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives for outstanding and invaluable service to the community. Further, the Crespi Carmelite Alumni Association presented John with the "Spiritual Leader Award" in 2010. We are very much heartened knowing that John’s memory lives on in the thousands of students he taught at Crespi. Sirach 5:36 “If you find a man with understanding, get up early to call on him; wear out his doorstep with you visits.” We wish we could have spent more time at his doorstep! We give our thanks to his California family, Dr. Gerald Sanders, Audrey Mead, Don McGee and the entire faculty, staff and student body at Crespi, who all supported John so well through the first stages of his "ailment" as he referred to it. We also thank all the Pearland Colonial Oaks community and Maria Hernandez for their great care and affection for our brother John. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crespi Carmelite High School, Encino, California or to the ALS Association of Texas. Visitation: Wednesday 6/24 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 Broadway, Pearland Funeral Mass: Thursday 6/25 10:00 am at St. Helen’s Catholic Church, 2209 Old Alvin Road, Pearland Following Mass, internment will be at Forest Park Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale, Houston, at approximately 11:30.