Charles James King, Sr

SOUTH PORTLAND-Charles James King, Sr., 85, of South Portland died Tuesday December 4, 2012 at the Barron Center in Portland. He was born in Portland, a son of Charles and Mary McDonough King. He attended St. Dominic's Grammar School and was a graduate of Cheverus High School. Charlie served in the Navy during World War II, returning to Maine after the war.In October 1954, he married the former Margaret "Babe" M. O'Donnell. They spent 38 wonderful years together, raising their three boys before she predeceased him in 1992. Charlie worked briefly for Hay's Drug Store on Congress Street. He then worked as a purchasing agent in the plumbing and heating industry for over 50 years. He started his career at Palmer Supply Co. on Commercial Street in Portland. He later accepted a position with Redlon-Johnson, retiring in 2002 after 30 years of service. While at Redlon's, he obtained national recognition in the plumbing industry as the National Purchasing Agent of the year in 1982 and was in the top 100 numerous times over his career. In June of 2000, he married the former Marilyn Parker at Holy Cross Church, where he was a communicant. Though their years were few, their time together was very happy. Charlie made Marilyn's family and friends his family and friends. Charlie loved to travel and he enjoyed fine dining. When the kids were young, summer vacation meant trips to Boston to watch the Red Sox. Later in life, he enjoyed trips to the Canadian Rockies, the Mediterranean, Alaska, and found Rome to be a charming city. He especially enjoyed the two trips to Ireland with his brothers and sisters and visiting the "old" homestead while there. Family was always important to Charlie and most Sundays from as far back as the 1970's were spent at his brother's John's home on Watchic Lake in Standish with brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Charlie also enjoyed watching and spending time with his four grandchildren; he was a constant presence at all their recitals and sporting events. Charlie was predeceased by a brother John King, sisters Mary King, Peggy Campbell, Kay Welch, Eleanor Hooper, and a stepson Kim Parker. Survivors include his wife Marilyn King of South Portland; three sons, Charles "Chuck" King, Jr. of South Portland, John King and his wife Julie and granddaughters Elizabeth and Andrea of South Portland, Robert King and his wife Shirley and grandsons Joshua and Caleb of Cumberland; step-children, Rhonda Lichtenstein and her husband Robert of South Portland, Vickie Parker and her fianc(c) Gerald Hauser of Minot, Mitchell Parker and his wife Sheree of Milford, CT; a brother, Thomas King of South Portland; sister, Barbara Tuttle of Portland; and seven step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Cross Church, corner of Broadway and Cottage Road, South Portland. Burial with Military rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Those desiring may make donations to: The Barron Center Alzheimer's Unit, 1145 Brighton Ave., Portland, Maine 04102.Online condolences may be expressed below.