This is the tribute that my husband shared at the memorial service.


I appreciated many things about Pop King. His gracious hospitality always made people feel welcome. His appreciation and enthusiasm for God’s creation, especially BIRDS, could inspire almost anyone to stop, listen, or just give thanks. His joyful, passionate appreciation for music (classical, Russian choral, Church hymns or chorales) amounted to more than listening, leading, or even performing the music he loved – Pop experienced the music, and he loved to invite others into that experience, to enjoy it with him. I bet many of us could close our eyes right now and picture him passionately conducting along with a recording of Russian choral music (And likewise, knowing that the volume would be turned up so loud that the low, low Bass part might be causing tectonic plate shift or some other seismic event).

But I believe what I most appreciated about Pop was the way he actively and thoughtfully valued others in relationship. Through words and actions and overall generosity, he constantly communicated to people in his life – “You are important to me; our relationship is important.” 

He invested in our lives by constantly making it a point to find out what mattered to us, what we liked. Then, he would make the effort to include that in his priorities and plans while together. He would bring people their favorite pastry, delivering good coffee, bringing special gifts for people…just because. It wasn’t necessarily because of a particular occasion. It was just Pop being himself, thoughtfully and actively showing love through his characteristic relational hospitality.

He showed such grace and kindness to me. He unselfishly made his home a place of refuge for me, to rest and retreat when I was tired or stressed out from Pastoral ministry. He made sure I knew, every time I visited, that he wanted me to feel free to simply “be” – with no expectations.

I believe Pop actively lived out the message of 1 John 3:18 where it says, “Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” And in Verse 23, “This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”

And I like to think that Pop also lived out the South African mindset of Ubuntu – that says, People are meant to exist in community. We live with a true sense of personhood because of our interconnectedness with other people. It’s living with a sense that “I am the person I am because of who you are.” About Mark King’s impact in our lives, perhaps you can say, as I know I can say with loving gratitude – “In some deeply important ways, I am who I am today are because of who he was.”

Dave Klingensmith Jr.     

I loved my 6th-grade year with Mr. King. Our class trip to Gettysburg was unforgettable in many ways, but two things stood out: the beginning point and end point of Pickett's Charge. When we went to the spot where Pickett's Charge began, I was standing next to Mr. King, looking across to the High-Water Mark. Mr. King explained the trek across the Peach Orchard, the Codori Farmhouse, and the turn to the High-Water Mark; the marching into cannon fire. I stood there, shaking my head and said, "They were nuts!" Mr. King chuckled and gave me a little tap on the head.

When we viewed the site from the High-Water Mark, I stood at the Armistead marker. I knelt and patted the marker. Mr. King and I chatted about my man Lou. I said something about hearing the voices of history and he said there are places where the voices shout for you to listen. He told me, "Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” That was the first time I ever heard the Churchill quote. That quote has echoed in my head thousands of times since then, always when the voices of history are shouting and always in Mr. King's voice.

When I remember my Uncle Mark there are three themes that come to mind:
Men’s religious music.
The Pittsburg Pirates.
Sharing a good story.

Uncle Mark shared a passion for music with my father. Both of them sang in various men’s choirs and quartets. Both led various choirs both men’s and mixed voice choirs. It was Uncle Mark who convinced my dad to take our family out to Laurelville Mennonite Church camp for Music Week one summer. At this camp we practiced and performed Alice Parker’s Martyrs Mirror. It was also at this camp where I remember hearing different types of church music that I had not heard before. I will be forever grateful to my Uncle for the part he played in opening up my world.

The day Roberto Clemente’s plane went down was a sad day for my Uncle Mark. Through Uncle Mark I learned about one of baseball’s all-time great center fielders. I have fond memories of watching and listening to Pirate baseball as only Bob Prince could call it. We shared a love for Willie Stargel, Dave Parker, John Candeleria, the “Goose”, and Kent Tekulve to name just a few of the Pirate greats.

I suppose Uncle Mark’s training as an elementary school teacher made him a safe person for a young boy growing up to express himself albeit foolishly at times. It was in the company of my Uncle Mark that I developed my gift of telling a good story and also the joy of listening to him tell good stories. On one particular occasion I listened as Mark told my dad a story of a farmer trimming his apple trees when he slipped and found himself hanging from the crotch of a branch by his neck. “As his life flashed before him, he remembered that he had voted for Harry Truman. It made him feel so small, he slipped from the crotch and his life was saved.”

Uncle Mark due to your influence in my life as a young person growing up, I am able to navigate life better. For that I will be forever grateful to you. Rest now and enjoy those things that you sang about in this life.

Uncle Mark was married to my dad's sister, Carrie. His love for music had his family attending music week at Laurelville Mennonite Church camp every year. One year, he encouraged our family to attend. What great memories. A specific dear memory I have of that summer is unrelated to music but rather to the English language. Mark, being an elementary grade teacher, lovingly taught me to think about and substitute a better descriptive word for the food I was tasting in the diningroom. Instead of proclaiming "this is TERRIBLE good", as i was taught in my area to say, Uncle Mark asked me what the waitress would think I thought of the food, if she only heard that first adjective 'terrible?' Aha, Uncle Mark.....a better word would be VERY good. Yes, very good! Now isn't that better all around? And nary a shame was felt. Thank you, Uncle Mark!!

Mark and my dad were cousins, and so I knew Mark from family gatherings as well as other occasions.  Some specific memories are him encouraging me to sing a soprano solo when he taught music at BMS in early 1960's.  Then he and Carrie sang a beautiful duet at our wedding in 1970.  In later years, he shared family genealogy facts with me when genealogy became my interest.  He contributed much to the lives of all who knew him.

Uncle Mark was my favorite Uncle. He was my dad’s brother and married my mom’s sister. When he arrived at family gatherings, he would make the rounds and greet each one of us, (and there were many). After Aunt Carrie passed, he made the best of his situation and was a true example of how to live with his loss. Later in life, when just he and his sister Ida were left, he made weekly trips (or nearly weekly) from Aaronsburg to Allensville to pick her up and they had lunch together at Taste Of the Valley in Belleville. He made the most of the time they had left. He had a wonderful sense of humor and told many interesting stories from the past. And he made the BEST coffee! Yes, I will miss uncle Mark, but am glad he can be reunited with his family. For those who belong to Jesus, death is a victory!!!!!

I enjoyed a good cup of coffee out of my Aaronsburg Pottery mug in honor of your Dad. Remembering the hospitality of your Mom and Dad. Enjoying the music and singing of all of us. Memories will live on forever!

Many a day was spent in the King's yard. What ever the daily activity would be never a word was uttered of concern for the garden or trees that were present. I am sure that some of the vegetables produced never made there way to the table due to the ever present summer wiffleball games played in the yard. There are too many found memories to ramble on. Mr. King was a man that many could only wish to be as virtuous. May the family find peace in knowing their father has been reunited with his wife in heaven.

Mark will always have a special place in my heart. When I was a teenager in the 1960's my German mother sold World Book Encyclopedia to Mark and Carrie. A warm friendship developed that lasted until his passing. Mark was there for me during the times of my brother's drug and alcohol abuse. Mark and Carrie sang at my husband's and my wedding at Penn State in 1981. Mark even consented to be one of the executors of my mother's will. All of this I wrote in my recent memoir Bittersweet Memories.

When my father, Glen King, Mark's brother, passed away in 1975, Uncle Mark came to our farm and played ball with my siblings and I, a number of times over the next couple of years. Uncle Mark also took me hunting that year (1975) and the next few years. We enjoyed having Mark at our family gatherings and listening to his stories. Thanks to the family for sharing your father with us during our difficult times. Precious memories.

Mark made music more vibrant and joy filled. I was privileged to sing under his direction in classrooms, choirs, and congregations.

He was the second non-work person I met in State College. What a difference he and Carrie made in my life! They welcomed me to the church, to singing, and to enjoying ice cream with their family. They both always noticed me! What a blessing. Mark made such a difference in the life of so many creatures. Hugs and love to you all!!

Mark was most welcoming and generous, and his hospitality noted as well! We sure shared some good times! He introduced me to several unique locations for birdwatching. We did quite a number of trips together, sometimes repeat trips to the same location, but one location we traveled to many times, and it has become a special place for me. I will always think of him anytime I travel there. It’s like I’ll never be birding alone there, now. He was always ready to do the next trip, so I only ever felt that he genuinely enjoyed our times together as well. We always had good times, whether traveling together or simply sitting on his back porch! He will be forever missed!

I have so many wonderful memories. So many that it would be impossible to pick a favorite one. I can say this however. He was such a positive influence and force in my life, and I know for sure that I couldn't be the father, husband, or friend that I am today without him. He was the best example of how to grow old with grace. His life is a tribute to everything that can be good in this world.