Clifford F. King

Mr. Clifford F. King of Carolina, Rhode Island, passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Kent County Hospital. He was the beloved husband of the late Mary E. (Quinn) King.
Born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island on July 31, 1930, he was the son of the late Charles L. King Sr. and Alice Pearl (Browning) King.

Clifford spent his childhood growing up in Hope Valley and then later on in Wakefield, Rhode Island. He graduated from South Kingstown High School with the class of 1948 where he was a captain and star of the track team. His favorite hobby was photography and he was an enthusiastic aggie student. Cliff served in the US Army during the Korean War as a Sergeant first class and a photographer. After serving for over 4 years he worked as a photographer and co-owner of Wilking Studio in Wakefield Rhode Island with Robert Wilke.

He met his future wife, Mary E. Quinn from Narragansett and got married in the summer of 1956. While attending the University of Rhode Island, Cliff was a short order cook at the Wakefield Diner. He was a 1958 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He later was employed by the US Department of Agriculture as a Plant Quarantine Chief Inspector In Charge for 38 years starting out in Houston TX, then on to Stoneham MA, North Reading MA, Seattle WA and then back to Carolina, Rhode Island where he settled in with his wife and five children.

Throughout his life, Cliff was an avid gardener. Every year he would grow a large vegetable garden at home. He knew about all species of plants and insects, and loved to be outdoors. He was a true farmer at heart. His knowledge and support will be greatly missed by all of his family.

Clifford is survived by his children: Catherine Martineau and husband Joseph, (Charles) Bryan King and wife Deborah, David King and wife Mary, Julie LaMountain and husband Robert, Amy King-Crandall and husband Kevin, and nine grandchildren: Daniel and Jason Martineau; Caitlin, Sean, and Chase LaMountain; Ryan, Connor, Mariah, and Michael King, and his sister, Alice (King) Davidson. He was preceded in death by his siblings Charles L. King Jr., Virginia (King) Arnold, Eleanor King, and Emogene Geneva King.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Clifford’s name to a charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. S.R. Avery Funeral Home, 3A Bank St., Hope Valley, RI is assisting the family with arrangements.

For online condolences, please visit www.averyfuneralhome.com
 

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