David A. King

King, David Arthur, 85, of Wakefield, died October 16 in South County. He was the husband of the late Norma (Holt) King. They had been married for 40 years. Born in Seekonk, MA he was a son of the late Charles A. and Phoebe A. King. He graduated East Providence High School with Honors and Bryant College (now Bryant University). He was a Certified Public Accountant and worked many years in public accounting. In 1970 he began working full-time for the Champlin companies and moved with his family to Oakville, Ontario, Canada to manage a plant in Toronto. He held many offices with various companies. Upon the death of George S. Champlin in 1980 he was appointed the first Executive Director of The Champlin Foundations, a position he held for nearly 23 years until his retirement in 2003. He was on the Foundations’ Distribution Committee for 30 years from 1975 until 2005. He always said he liked “animals, land and people, not necessarily in that order.” He was pivotal in making The Champlin Foundations a giving force in Rhode Island and he was a leader in land conservation and partnership efforts, supporting libraries and expanding technology across the state, and programs to benefit children and animals. Dave believed it was a privilege and an honor to carry on the philanthropic efforts of George Champlin who aimed to “do the most, for the most” in the state of Rhode Island. He proclaimed to all that he had “the best job in the world” and went about his work demonstrating how much he meant it. Otherwise he described himself as “common as dirt.” Dave loved dogs and cared for fourteen of them from the time he was seven years old. He shared author Robert B. Parker’s P.I. Spenser’s outlook: “I don’t care where I go when I die as long as every dog I ever loved comes running up to greet me!” He was also an avid reader and history buff. Dave is survived by his daughter, Wendy, and son-in-law Don Skinner of Rehoboth, MA, his sister Ann M. Hardy of Seekonk, MA, his beloved dog Julia, and several nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his brother 2nd Lt. Ralph G. King, USAAF, and sisters Hilda F. Mehall and Mildred H. King. Cremation will be followed by a private burial. Calling hours will be held Monday, October 20 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the J.H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home, 210 Taunton Avenue, East Providence. Gifts in his memory to the Animal Rescue League of Southern Rhode Island, P.O. Box 458, Wakefield, RI 02880 would be appreciated.

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