James Emery King

James "Jim" Emery King, age 84 of Albia, died Thursday, March 22, 2012 in Naples, Florida. Jim was born March 16, 1928, in Kings, Illinois to John and Helen (Hayes) King. He married Patricia Pemberton on June 8, 1952, in Des Moines. She preceded Jim in death on November 18, 2011. They shared 59 years together. A graduate of Albia Community High School, class of 1946, and of Iowa Wesleyan College, Jim entered the United States Air Force during the early 1950s and was a Link Trainer Instructor at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He went on to receive his master's degree in Education from Northern Iowa Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa), and taught high school math and science in Illinois. In 1962 Jim moved to Albia, where he began his career in banking. Jim was an enthusiastic community member, actively participating for many years in the Albia Community Betterment Corporation, Rotary, the Albia Industrial Development Board, and the Monroe County Museum Board. He and Pat were great believers in the importance of education, and contributed generously to several scholarship funds. Jim loved adventure. He took up SCUBA diving in his 40s, and completed nearly 600 dives. He also enjoyed water skiing and windsurfing for many years. He loved cultural adventure, too, traveling with Pat to more than 70 countries, and hosting visitors and exchange students from India, Japan, Australia, and France. Their favorite was Alejandro Gonzalez, a Venezuelan exchange student who lived with the Kings, graduated from high school with their son John, and became part of the family. Alejandro lives in New Jersey with his wife, Olexis, and children, Vanessa and Diego. Jim and Pat shared a devotion to the Alliance for the Mentally Ill, since their son John had schizophrenia. They established a bike trail in John's memory that is enjoyed by many Albians. They also devoted many hours to MUFON, an organization dedicated to the scientific study of Unidentified Flying Objects. Jim was MUFON's Iowa State Director for several years; he enjoyed investigating UFO sightings and had been anticipating many more years of investigative activity. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Pat; and son, John Kenneth King, who was killed in a traffic accident in 1996. Jim is survived by his daughter Laurie King and son-in-law Jim Shubin of Novato, CA; a grandson, Austin Ferguson of Mill Valley, CA; and sisters Carol Sovern of Albia and Linda Benson of Anchorage, Alaska. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, March 30, 2012 at Trinity United Methodist Church with Pastor Neil Montz officiating. Burial will be in Oak View Cemetery in Albia. Visitation will open at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 29, 2012 at the Tharp–Winfield Funeral Home, with Jim's family present from 6-8 p.m. Thursday evening. Memorials may be directed to the Albia Public Library, Iowa Alliance for the Mentally Ill or Hospice of Monroe County.

James Emery King

March 16, 1928 - March 22, 2012