Obituary of Claire V. King

Claire King passed away at her home in Sidney, NY on May 7, 2019. She was born August 18th, 1920 in Medford, Massachusetts, the third daughter of Charles Newton March and Mildred Vaupel March. She graduated from Medford High School in June of 1938 and went on to attend the Massachusetts School of Arts, where she graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Education on June 10th, 1942. She worked briefly in Manchester, New Hampshire as an art teacher before marrying Robert Howard King in Medford, Massachusetts on June 27th, 1944. After marriage, she lived and worked in Ashfield, Massachusetts, before moving to Williamstown, Massachusetts, where she taught kindergarten at the Pine Cobble School from 1950 until 1960.

A move to New York brought her to Mt. Upton briefly where she taught art and then to Sidney in 1961. She began teaching 1st grade there until 1978. She also taught 2nd grade, and was instrumental in initiating a new system of reading in the Sidney Elementary School called, "The Initial Teaching Alphabet", which gave early readers a significant boost. In 1964, she received her Master of Science Degree in Education from The State University of New York in Oneonta.

After retirement, she pursued a career in amateur porcelain doll making. She was certified a master of doll making by the Doll Artisan Guild School of Doll Making on May 3rd, 1991. She went on to win many ribbons, and a best in show, at exhibitions.

She had two children. Laurence Robert King, who predeceased her on January 25, 2012, and a daughter, Virginia, who is married to David R. Wormuth.

Her husband passed away on June 5th, 2015. She was also predeceased by sisters, Barbara, Diana, and Priscilla, and brother, Richard.

She has two grandchildren, Matthew David Wormuth of Unadilla, NY and Dr. Lyndsay Wormuth-Carlson, married to Dr, Brent Matthew Carlson, of Vestal, NY.

She has one great grandson, Christian Brent Carlson, who is her special treasure. She leaves many caring nieces and nephews.

Donations in her memory can be made to the First Congregational Church in Sidney, NY. She loved her church, and attended for many years.