Edward J. King Jr. Aug 8, 1921 – Jun 3, 2012

June 04 2012

Edward J King Jr. 1921-2012, Co-Founder of King Estate Passes
Edward J. King Jr. was a true American success story. From humble beginnings on a dust bowl era wheat farm in Jetmore, Kansas he went on to become a leader in the avionics industry, and to co-found King Estate Winery with his son Ed King III and other family. His obituary is below. Friends and loved ones that would like to leave a comment for Ed Jr. and his family are encouraged to do so at the bottom of this post, below the gallery.

Thank you,

The King Family

Edward J. King, Jr. was born on his parents’ farm near Jetmore, Kansas on August 8, 1921. His parents were Edward and Winifred King. His family included a brother and three sisters. He attended a one room school house, often on his horse Ned.

King graduated from Hodgeman County Community High School and attended Dodge City Junior College before enrolling as an engineering student at Kansas State University. He graduated from Kansas State in 1943 and went to work as an engineer, working for several companies before founding Communications Accessories Company in 1948. In 1955, King sold the company to Collins Radio Corporation and continued to work for Collins until 1959, when he founded King Radio Corporation.

King Radio started in Ed King’s basement, and then moved into a farmhouse in a Kansas City suburb, Lenexa, Kansas. King Radio sales rose along with the growth in the general aviation market and the great success of King Radio products. Employment at King Radio rose into the thousands, and its products were widely accepted for all general aviation aircraft.

In 1985, Ed King, Jr. sold King Radio to Allied Signal/Bendix Aerospace and retired, only to join with his son, also named Ed King, and other family members, to found King Estate Winery in 1991. While Ed King, Jr. enjoyed a bountiful retirement, King Estate Winery has met with wide success, establishing the wines of Oregon across the U.S. The family’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to excellence are exemplified by the life of Ed King , Jr.

King is survived by his wife of 32 years, Carolyn G. King, his son Ed King (Jodee), daughter Shelley King Theis, son William King, daughter Shannon Young, son Ronald Innes (Michelle) and granddaughters, grandsons, and a great grandson. He is predeceased by his brother and sisters, his wife Mary Jo McHargue King, daughter Ann Katherine King, grandson Michael Lane Thomas.

From his high school class motto at Hodgeman County, Kansas: “Deeds, not words.” And so he lived his life.

to share thoughts and memories please scroll to the comments
section
at the bottom of this page below the photo gallery.

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  • Laurelavionics

    May GOD bless the King family in this hour of sorrow. The avionics industry hasn’t been the same nor will it ever be. I will never forget the man and leader that believed in his dealers and provided manuals and test equipment at an affordable price, if he even charged anything. I’m pleased and honored to have been a part of the King Radio Family. I was even more surprised at the wonderful wines from King Estates! May give you, Carolyn, and your family peace.
    Rest well, Ed.
    Tom Turnbull

  • Keithkincaid

    Another of the “greatest generation” passes. Ed King will be missed.

    Keith Kincaid and Bridget Baker Kincaid
    Tower Club

  • Susan Ebel

    My fondest memory of Ed King was very unsettling for me at the time it happened. I was a fairly new employee at King Radio in 1981. My husband would pick me up from work on his motorcycle in front of the building where the executive offices were. Of course it was after 5 and I was walking very briskly towards the front offices to head out and meet up with my husband. I should mention here that I was also carrying a motorcycle helmet, purse and probably some other things as well. The hallways had those mirror globes on the ceilings at the intersections but who pays attention to those, right? Anyway, I pretty much charged around the corner only to bump/run/smack into this very nice gentleman…whose papers I knoced out of his hand onto the floor everywhere! Upon realizing who I had just mowed down, I immediately proceeded to apologize profusely and help pick up his papers! At this point I thought I was out of a job the next day but Ed was so very gracious and forgiving…perhaps almost amused by the whole thing. With a sweet smile and a twinkle in his eye, I could see he rather felt sorry for me because of how bad I felt. Well, I spent the next 8 years there working for Mr. King…never once being called into his office for termination.

    I truly enjoyed my years at King Radio and was honored to work for someone with qualities that are very rare in business these days, genuine care and concern for his company and employees. I felt like part of a family there and my heart goes out to Ed King’s family during this difficult time.

  • Martin & Susan Butt

    Sorry to hear of your loss.     I recall a very pleasant discussion with Ed King beside your fireplace in the small room of your visitor’s center (new at that time).     This was a Tower Club event.      After many lengthy reminisces, Ed excused himself saying he is leaving to ‘look for his sweetie’.      It is easy to see how he is missed by so many close to him.

    Susan and Martin Butt

  • Joe Garrigo

    We visited King Estate a few days ago and learned about Ed King’s passing there.  He was an amazing person and built a winery where few or no grapes were grown before.  KIing Estate makes superb wines and has always promoted Oregon as a first class wine region, especially for Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.  Our prayers and sympathy go to his family.  A toast to a great man with… of course… his much loved Pinot Gris.
    Vicki and Joe Garrigo, Wine columnist, Miami FL

  • Sharon Paup Rusher

    I was so sorry to read of Mr.Kings passing.  I was his first secretary when he had the office at 75th Street and I-35.  My name was Sharon Paup and soon became Sharon Rusher.  Ed was such a good man to work for, honest, integrity and very true to his word.  He was a very genuine man.  These men are hard to find these days.
    Sharon Paup Rusher 

  • Ralph J. & Kathy Crumrine

     To Ed’s family, my wife and I would like to express our sincere sympathy in his death. Ed lived a long and productive life. He was and will be much admired for his accomplishments.
    Because of his entrepreneurial spirit, I had a wonderful opportunity to work and apply myself as an electrical engineer recently out of college. Ed was a father figure for me as my own father had died early in my life. I shared his enthusiasm for airplanes and the avionics that were so necessary to expand the utility and safety of flight. I wish him the best in his last flight west.

  • Monica Stavoe

    Our condolences to the King Family.
    Your Carefree neighbors, Doug and Monica Stavoe

  • Charlene Webster

    The King Family: I would like to thank the King family for having a special tribute for the employees to attend as we all know Ed would of loved it. As an employee and friend it meant alot to chat with the family about Ed and his long amazing life. I’m not much of a public speaker but wished I had raised a glass of Pinot Gris to  him on that day. So lets all raise our glasses in a toast to Ed for being a friend to his employees and making them feel important in what ever job they were doing. Thank you Ed III,Carolyn, and the rest of the king family for allowing the employees to share their memories with you. A toast to a special kind man.  Fond Memories 

  • Pat and Jim Edwards

    The employees of King Estate we’re all part of the King family in Ed’s eyes. He and Carolyn knew and treasured all of you. Jim and I weren’t employees, but we were invited to the memorial reception that day as representatives of the community of Lorane. It was wonderful seeing and hearing how very much he was respected and appreciated by those who were in attendance. It was a large “family” gathering and I thank Ed III and Sherry for their kind invitation at a difficult time.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Laura-Akers/11519885 Laura Akers

     Ed King was my very distant cousin – I think his grandfather and my great-great-grandfather were brothers, in the King family – and we corresponded briefly in the early 1990s about our common interest in the family history.  He sent me an entire binder filled with his research about all of the King ancestors, and all of the descendants he knew about.  How generous!  I will always think warmly of him, and I am sorry not to have met him in person.

    Laura (Geuy) Akers
    (LauraA@ori.org)

  • Tom and Janet Smith

    Dear Carolyn and Ed and family:
    Janet and I are blessed in having you and Ed as our friends since 1975. Ed sold us our first aircraft radios when we took Mooney out of bankruptcy and continued to be a great supplier for decades. Then when King Estates winery was getting established, we were honored to be asked to help you pour tastings at the Sun Valley Wine festival in the early 1990’s. We visited your Carefree home many times and enjoyed many GAMA Board meetings together. Ed was a true gentleman and a giant in the aircraft industry. May God bless you all.

  • Art Ercolani

    I was employee number 67 for King Radio starting in May of 1967. Mr. King took me in as an Electronic Technician  just out of the US Air Force and although the name of the company changed several times, I remained for 38 years, retiring as an Engineering Manager in 2005. While working in Engineering for 37 of those years, I experienced working with a down to earth company president that would come into your office and first ask you about your family to not having any personal contact with management two levels above you. Mr. King would talk to us in the halls, congratulate us when we completed Engineering Releases and many of us thought it would always be like that for our careers.  I designed avionic Flight Control Systems but also was fortunate to work on Mr. King’s “other projects” such as the Voyager Around the World Flight and his first venture into Marine Autopilots. I was fortunate to be on Flight Tests with Mr. King as well as Tests of the Marine Autopilot down at Key West, Florida. He treated all of us as co-workers. My Mom and Dad came to visit us at Christmas one year and I took them out to the plant to show them what I was working on. Mr. King saw us in the lab and came over to welcome them to Kansas and I will never forget that very special half hour at King Radio. My condolences to the family he leaves behind and I thank you so very much for sharing him with all of us that worked “with” him and not “for” him.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tom.dailey.71 Tom Dailey

    I was with KING RADIO as a prod. tech. 1966-1971 (Brockway & Rogers Rd. plants)   Mr. King knew EVERY PART of EVERY RADIO, and always was interested in our ideas for improvement.  We ALL had tremendous respect for him; he was always a “hands-on” guy, which made you want to do an even better job.  Squawk 1200 – maintain your own navigation, Ed.

  • Don Dickinson

    It was so sad to hear of Ed’s passing he was a fine man and friend. My husband Don Dickinson flew with him back in Carefree Arizona. Ed will be missed.
    Sincerly,
    Don and Jayne Dickinson, San Diego, Ca

  • Ed and Marja reitz

     

    Our deepest sympathy to Carolyn and the King Family.
     We have fond memories of our stay at your cottage in 2008.
    The old stories were brought up again about Ed Jr as an employee of Rycom Instruments and starting King Radio.
    Ed was a true example of an American entrepeneur and pioneer.
    Though the voice is quiet the spirit echoes still.
    Marja and Ed Reitz