Beryl Wilson King died at home in Newark, DE on July 2, 2024 at the age of 103. Beryl was born on January 12, 1921, in Jefferson City, TN to Earl and Rhoda Wilson. She and her three sisters and two brothers were raised in Bald Creek, NC. She graduated from Berea College in 1941 and worked for one year as a Home Economics Teacher in Burnsville, NC. In the fall of 1941, she returned to Berea to work as a manager of one of their industries. It was then that she met her future husband, John Robert (Bob) King and they were married October 16, 1942. After moving to Charleston IL, and Rochester, NY, Beryl and Bob moved to Newark, where Bob joined the faculty of the Music Department of the University of Delaware. Their home was open to visiting composers, friends, and students, many of whom became lifelong friends.
Beryl was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, donating her talents to the Needlework Guild of America and the St. Thomas’s Prayer Shawl Ministry, among others. She also took up quilting, creating works of art for family and friends. She also served as a docent at Winterthur during their Spring Tours for many years.
Beryl was an active member of St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church, serving in a variety of ministries. She was chair of the Altar Guild for many years, served on many of the ministry committees, was the second woman elected to the Vestry, eventually serving as both Junior and Senior Warden. She was often found organizing various Parish Pot-Luck suppers, and worked in the kitchen for many events, most notably the Antiques Show, also serving as Chair of this major parish fundraiser.
Beryl was active in the Episcopal Church in Delaware. A member of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), twice she represented the Diocese at the Triennial meeting, held at the same time as General Convention, and was present when the Ordination of Women was approved in 1976. She was also secretary of Diocesan Council and a member of the Standing Committee. She baked pies for St. Michael’s Day School in Wilmington, DE and also served as coordinator for Hope Dining Room for several years – feeding our brothers in sisters in need.
One of Beryl’s most gratifying ministries was driving cancer patients for treatment. A survivor herself, she understood the importance of offering assistance to those undergoing this type of care.
Beryl and Bob began traveling after his retirement from the University, going to Great Britain, Alaska and on several cross country train trips. She also went on Mission Trips to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica with her sister and brother-in-law. After Bob’s death, she traveled to Russia, Norway, Spain and Portugal, Italy, France, Nova Scotia, Central Europe, and Australia, Fiji and New Zealand.
Beryl is preceded in death by her husband, J. Robert King, Jr.; her sisters Ruth Caldwell and Jan Laughridge, and her brother Ron Wilson. She is survived by her sister Margaret Young (Milton), her brother W. Deane Wilson (Marilyn); her daughters, Beverly King, Margaret Zeller, Helen Spence (Stan) and Barbara Buckingham (Richard); her grandchildren Michelle Cohen (Jason), Jackson Gilman (Lauren), Heather Lopez, Matthew Zeller, Robert Spence (Melissa) and Greg Spence (Katsy); and ten great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church in Newark on July 11, 2024 at 2 pm. Interment will follow at the St. Thomas’s Cemetery on Delaware Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church” or “Delaware Hospice” and sent in care of R.T. Foard and Jones, Inc. 122 West Main Street, Newark DE 19711. To send an online condolence, please visit www.rtfoard.com.
The family offers sincere thanks to her caregivers: Sally, Missy, Pamela, Abigale, Yvonne and Rachael. The family also thanks Delaware Hospice for the excellent care they provided, specifically: Karen, Kaitlyn, Leah, Quinette, Valerie, Stefanie, Angie, Nicolette, Ebela, and Beth.