Irene Rae King

Irene was born in Valley City, North Dakota on February 27, 1927, (on probably a cold day), and lived a full and active life. After graduating from high school, she attended school in Minneapolis before working for the American Red Cross there for 4 years. Looking for a change, she and a close friend went to work at a resort hotel in Glacier Park, Montana for a fun summer. After returning to Minneapolis, looking for a new experience she trained for and taught ballroom dancing for a year. Next she moved on to Colorado Springs, CO where she worked as a secretary for the Director of the National Bureau of Standards. It was there that she met and married her husband Eugene. Since his position with the Hughes Aircraft Company required him to live in many locations it presented an opportunity to live in and visit our country and Canada. They had four sons, each born in a different state. Upon returning to California in 1968 they made their home in Thousand Oaks.

Irene was a perennial volunteer and immediately got involved teaching children Religious Education at St. Paschal’s parish, helping in scouting, little league and PTA. She was very busy with PTA serving as president at Horizon Hills school, Redwood Intermediate School, and then at Thousand Oaks High School. She was also active in the Hoopster Club and the Thousand Oaks High School Scholarship Foundation. Irene used to say, “PTA presidents would never die, they just move on to the Historical Society”, and that is what she did. She was President there for 3 years including being a trustee for many years. While there, she was instrumental in having a large boulder with a plaque placed near the Ventura Freeway marking the original site of the Stagecoach Inn.

Irene was also selected and honored as the Dona Triunfo at the annual Fiesta de Triunfo Ball in 1990. She was named as a Trustee Emeritus of the Conejo Valley Historical Society in December 2010.

In 1982 Irene was a charter member of NAMI/Ventura County (National Alliance on Mental Illness). She has been active on the board since then, serving as secretary, president, and treasurer. In 1983 she started a family support group in Thousand Oaks for sharing ideas and finding ways to cope with mental illness. It is still active.

“The King and I” loved to travel. Gene and Irene had traveled several times abroad and in most all of the states including Mexico and Canada. They even “got their kicks”, driving back and forth on Route 66. Having lived in California over 40 years, they had the pleasure of visiting all of the 21 Missions along the California coast.

Irene loved music, dancing, the theater, concerts, sewing, and doing calligraphy. She cherished her family and treasured her many friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Eugene, and one beloved son, Jay Christopher. She is survived by 3 sons & wives.

Thomas and Laurie King, children: Jodi, Tony, Daniel, Payden. Jonathan and Maria King, children: Peri. Michael and Marcy King, children: Jayden, Joshua. Four great grandchildren: Kodi, Sierra, Brooklynn and Savannah. Survived by brother, James Hemmesch Anchorage, AK. Preceded by sister, June Mosbrucker Costa Mesa, CA.

Church service to be held at St. Paschal Baylon 155 E Janss Road Thousand Oaks, CA on March 16, 2013 at 10:30am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NAMI Ventura County PO Box 1613 Camarillo, CA 93011