John A. “Jack” King, of Indian Hill Road in Barnstable, transitioned to his heavenly home on 22 March. He was born to Marianne Leah Birkmire and John King in Oneonta, NY on 25 September 1933 but was raised by his mom and stepfather, Robert Lincoln Sipfle, on their various dairy farms in Lafayette, NY. Following high school, Jack studied one year at the Syracuse University School of Forestry, and then enlisted in the US Navy in January 1954. He was trained as a Sonarman and rose through the enlisted ranks to Chief Petty Officer, followed by selection to Chief Warrant Officer and, ultimately, promotion to Lieutenant Junior Grade. He was a highly respected anti-submarine warfare expert.
Jack served in USS Limpkin (MSC 195), USS Dyess (DD 880), and USS Hammerberg (DE 1015). His shore duty assignments included US Naval Facilities San Salvador; Grand Turk; Bermuda; Antigua; and Keflavik, Iceland; and Oceanographic System, Atlantic headquarters in Norfolk, VA. He retired from the Navy on a Friday in September 1974 and returned to his Norfolk office the following Monday in a three-piece suit as a consultant.
Jack married a Naval officer colleague, Mary Ann Dranchak, in Norfolk in 1979. Including engagement, the couple enjoyed 45 years together and traveled often and widely throughout the world. He is survived by his loving wife, children from a previous marriage: Robert King (Barbara) of Athol, MA; Lawrence King of Virginia Beach; and Linda Baroni (Guy) of Spring Hill, FL, and grandchildren: Michelle Serr, Maximilian King, and Joshua Baroni.
Jack had many friends on Cape Cod, where he and his wife lived since her retirement from the Navy in 1993. He was a longtime member of the Cape & Islands Model Railroad Club in Hyannis and was a volunteer docent at the Barnstable County Fair for 15 years. A passionate and talented gardener, all of Jack’s yards were worthy of layouts in home and garden magazines.
The family would like to thank the incredible caring and kindness shown to Jack by the 3rd floor staff at the Mugar Building in Cape Cod Hospital in his last week on Earth. The VNA Hospice reps there also worked hard to get him a bed at the McCarthy Care Center in East Sandwich, where the loving kindnesses continued to the end.
Jack will be sorely missed and remembered by his many friends and family for his keen wit, and his kind and gentle nature.
A memorial service will be scheduled. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New England Society for Abandoned Animals (89 S. Main Street, Centerville MA 02632) or the McCarthy Care Center (73 Service Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537).
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