Obituary of Kathryn R. King

Kathryn R. King, a resident of the Rydal Park retirement community in Rydal, PA passed away on April 15, 2013. She was 107. Kathryn was born Kathryn Grace Reimert on February 24, 1906 in Yochow City (now called Yueyang) in Hunan Province, China. She was the third of four children born to educator and missionary William A. Reimert and his wife Mary A. (Snyder) Reimert, both formerly of Lynn Township. Rev. Reimert was killed by bandit-soldiers in 1920 at Huping Christian College while trying to protect women and children who had taken refuge there. After Rev. Reimert's death, his wife and children returned to the United States and settled in Allentown. Kathryn graduated from Ursinus College in 1927 with a degree in Classical Languages. She taught at Northampton Junior High School for a year before marrying John A. King, a World War I veteran and professor of engineering whom she had met on a blind date. They settled in Lawrence, Kansas, where John taught at the University of Kansas and their daughters Mary and Ruth were born. The King family moved to Syracuse, New York in 1941, where John taught at Syracuse University and their daughters grew to adulthood, attended Syracuse University, and married. After John retired in 1962, he and Kathryn settled in the small town of Boerne, Texas outside of San Antonio. John passed away in 1974, and in 1978, Kathryn moved to Jenkintown to share a home with her sister, Marguerite, the widow of Albert C. Hellwig. Marguerite later married Raymond T. Pearson, Sr. In 1983, Kathryn moved to the Rydal Park retirement community, where she enjoyed a life filled with friends. As her health declined in recent years she received attentive, supportive care from the Rydal Park staff. Kathryn was a long-time member of P.E.O. and participated in many volunteer activities. She was an avid reader and bridge player, but her greatest joy was the companionship of family and friends, many of whom knew her as "Katie". She is remembered for her great faith and humility, her patient resilience, and her gentle warmth. Positive and loving, and always ready to share a smile and a laugh, she was the sort of person who lifted the spirits of those around her. Besides her husband, Kathryn was preceded in death by her daughters, Mary K. (Charles) Werberig of Pittsford, NY and Ruth K. Richardson of South Pasadena, CA; by her brother William D. (Virginia) Reimert of Macungie, president and executive editor of the Call-Chronicle newspapers; by her brother Samuel A. (Alda) Reimert of Huntingdon; and by her sister Marguerite Hellwig Pearson of Rydal. Kathryn is survived by her beloved nephews; David A. Hellwig of New Hope and Phillip W. Hellwig of Erwinna, and by six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in the Auditorium of Rydal Park, 1515 The Fairway, Jenkintown. Friends will be received from 9:30 AM until the time of the service. Interment in West Laurel Hill Cemetery will be private. Memorial contributions may be sent to Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001, where Kathryn was a long-time member.