Virginia Mae King

Virginia Mae King was born in Flint, Michigan on January 8, 1932, to George and Eva Ruth King. After high school she attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL, where she was a member of Orpheus Choir. After graduation in 1956, she began her first teaching job at Mandeville High School in Flint. A Master’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University was earned in 1967 in Family Life Education, a division of the Home Economics Department. Virginia taught related classes at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN, before moving to the Portland, Oregon area. In Portland, she was on the faculties of George Fox University and Warner Pacific College. She also taught in the Portland Public School District at Hayhurst Elementary and Portsmouth Middle School until her retirement.

Virginia was active in her church—First Church of the Nazarene in Portland, OR. She loved good music, a hearty laugh and fine food, but most of all she loved, and was loved by, her friends. She kept in touch with classmates and students all of her life and considered many of her students her “children.” She often went way above the call of duty to aid and befriend needy students in her classrooms. In spite of great physical suffering in her later years, she did her best to stay in touch with friends from around the country and give them an encouraging word.

Virginia went to be with her Lord on December 9, 2012, and was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sister, Marilyn. She is survived by several cousins, aunts and a host of friends who will miss her but are rejoicing that she is no longer suffering and is now enjoying her heavenly home.

A Memorial Celebration of her life will be held at First Church of the Nazarene, 6100 S Raab Rd, Portland, OR on Tues, Jan 8, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the “Virginia M King Scholarship,” Olivet Nazarene University Foundation, 1 University Ave., Bourbonnais, IL 60914. Please visit the guestbook portion of this site. Thank you.