Anthony Joseph King

He was born the sixth of seven children to Robert and Elizabeth (Nicholson) King. He is survived by his wife Muriel, and their four children: Anthony (Donna), Richard (Susan), Stephen (Bibianna), Carol (Joseph), seven grandchildren (Robert, Candice, Colin, Demetria, Emily, Erin and Jennifer), five great-grandchildren, his sisters Gertrude, Cecilia, and Veronica and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Augustine (Bo) and sisters Elizabeth and Anne.

He worked for the CNR from 1953 to 1955 when he joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS). He briefly left the RCCS in 1958, but then rejoined in 1959 after marrying Muriel. They met on Tony’s first tour at the Vancouver Wireless Station (later CFS Ladner) BC. This also began a 68-year long love affair that saw them set up homes in Ladner, Inuvik, Sydney (NS), Gander, Masset and Leitrim (Ottawa), where they raised their four children with love while teaching them to value education and family.

He served for 32 years and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer in 1987. He had posted back and forth across the country with 6 tours of Alert, NWT, and 11 years living in Masset, B.C. during 2 postings.

After leaving the military, Tony and Muriel embarked on a second, more rewarding career: retirees. They bought their home in Parksville in 1987 as they both loved the west coast. His priority became being home for Muriel after years of being sent unaccompanied on postings or courses, leaving her to deal with four children and all the household responsibilities. For 38 years, he was a homebody in Parksville, gardening, berry picking, searching genealogy records, being a proud Papa to grandchildren, swimming laps at the beach, looking out for the seniors on the block, cooking, baking, making wine and enjoying the company of family and friends. He loved Parksville and enjoyed the warm summer evenings on the back deck especially when his children visited; anyone who knew him loved his molasses cookies! He remained active until being stricken by COPD. His final years were a struggle, but one he bore stoically.

Tony lived his faith, volunteering with Fr. Othmar build Sacred Heart Church in Ladner, acting as a lay reader, helping with administrative duties, even inviting parish and visiting priests to the house for meals in Masset. In retirement, he joined the Catholic Church of Ascension in Parkville and even when the pandemic and his own illness limited his ability to get out, he continued to watch mass online.

There will be no visitation. A funeral mass will be celebrated for Tony at the Catholic Church of Ascension 887 Wembley Rd, Parksville, BC, on Saturday, July 4 at 11:00 a.m. and followed by a reception to be held afterward at the Church Hall. Inurnment will be an invite only ceremony at Yates Memorial Services Cemetery, Parksville. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Yates Memorial Services, 1000 Allsbrook Rd, Parksville, B.C. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in his memory.