Wanda C. King, devoted mother, teacher
The Sussex County community lost one of its most treasured residents recently, Wanda Cahall Clendaniel King, 96, of Milton. She was known about Milton as the Ice Cream King’s wife, a favorite teacher to many, a reading tutor, and a thoughtful and kind friend. However, to Ben, Tom and Sandra, she was just Mom. It was she who instilled in them the principles of kindness, of giving, and of trying your best to do the right thing, including always using correct grammar!
Wanda was born the oldest of five children to Viola and Lester Clendaniel in 1927, in Lincoln. Her siblings were Emily (Herman Black), Martha (Charles Fisher), Caroline (Norman Donovan) and Lester (Susan Clendaniel). When Wanda was 12, the family moved into their Milton home on Broad Street, ironically, just behind what is now King’s Homemade Ice Cream Shop. Wanda graduated from Milton Consolidated High School in 1945 and then went on to graduate from West Chester Teacher’s College in 1949. She then began a long, gratifying teaching career that lasted over 30 years.
She taught high school and junior high school level classes and may be best known for demonstrating prepositions by climbing on, under, or over her desk. Her teaching was thoughtful, helping many who would have otherwise had difficulty. She also directed plays and coached softball. During her high school and college years, she dated and married Earl King, a relationship that lasted almost 50 years until Earl’s death.
Through the years, Wanda had many interests that she pursued vigorously after her retirement from teaching. When Earl bought the general store on Union in 1972, Wanda often helped out as the ice cream part of the business became the focus. For as long as she was able to attend, she enjoyed being a member of Goshen United Methodist Church in Milton. For most of her life, she enjoyed her daily spiritual readings, which were always next to her chair along with her newspaper and crossword puzzles. She was a member of various community groups throughout her life, including the Century Club, where she helped establish scholarship funds for local young women. Her life was filled with visiting or playing bridge with her many wonderful friends. Although she confessed to not being very good at it, she endeavored to learn how to play golf late in life. She and Earl enjoyed their golf outings with friends at Shawnee Country Club, but her most treasured time was spent with her family, to whom she was the epitome of caring and kindness.
Wanda and Earl had three children who adored them both; their eldest is Ben King (Donna). With his first wife, Jenny, he has two children, Lindsay King Trimble (Brent) and Cassie King Rempfer (Zach), and four grandchildren. The Kings’ second son was their beloved Tom who passed away in 2017. He is survived by Chris and two children, Chelsea King Spoor (Ruud) and Ryan King (Kelley), and five grandchildren. The youngest is Sandra King Flynn (Kevin) they have three children, Molly Flynn Cary (Dave), Conor Flynn and Maggie Flynn Swope (John), and three grandchildren, with another arriving in the spring. Wanda is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
While living at home, Wanda was cared for by several caregivers who had been former students and who became family. At the time of her passing, Wanda lived at Harrison Senior Living in Georgetown. The family would like to thank those special caregivers and the many, many workers from Harrison House who cared for Mom so lovingly.
Services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, March 10, at Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal St., Milton, with visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interment will be at Goshen Cemetery, 201 Chestnut St., in Milton. In lieu of flowers, mourners may choose to donate to the Women’s Club of Milton (formerly The Century Club), womensclubofmilton.org/copy-of-members-only.
Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.
