King, David D. (1874-1928)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1928 Jul 4 p. 1

Birth date: 1874

text of obituary:

LIND MINISTER LOSSES [sic] HIS LIFE

Ford Sedan Driven by Herbert King Turns Turtle and Kills Father.

Rev. David King, 53, Mennonite minister at Lind, Wash., was instantly killed, and his wife, 58, seriously injured, at 9:00 P. M. Tuesday, June 19th, when the Ford sedan in which the Kings were riding skidded and collided with a Ford touring car, driven by Mrs. A. C. Oswald, of Missoula, Montana. The accident occurred five miles from Ritzville on the Central Washington highway.

The King car was being driven from Ritzville, by Herbert, thirteen-year-old son of Rev. and Mrs. King and Rev. King was riding in the front seat with the youthful driver.

Mrs. Oswald was on her way to Missoula, and had two children in the car with her at the time of the accident, having met her son at Pasco on his return from school at Portland.

It was one of those accidents in which it is difficult to place the blame. Mrs. Oswald stated that she slowed her car down when meeting the King car, but others who were on the ground soon after the accident were of the opinion that the woman was taking more than her share of the road and the King boy was forced to turn out in the loose gravel. In so doing he lost control of the car and hooked onto the fender of the other Ford, which remained in an upright position, and none of the occupants were hurt. The King boy also escaped injury. Rev. King was evidently thrown through the windshield, as it was shattered, and he received terrible wounds on the head, causing almost instant death.

The occupants of the cars, including the body of Rev. King, were picked up some time later and brought into Ritzville by e. C. Wells, of Lind. Both cars, the King's almost totally wrecked, and the Oswald's slightly damaged, were brought to Ritzville by the Krehbiel Motor service. Mrs. Oswald remained in town until her car was repaired.

Mrs. King was taken to the Henry Albert home in Ritzville, and placed under the care of Dr. W. F. Armann. She sustained severe injuries, including broken ribs in 2 places and a broken collarbone. The body of Rev. King was at Haights undertaking parlors.

No funeral arrangements were made until the arrival of the children, Violette King, of Lewiston, Idaho; Harley King, of Flagstaff, Arizona; and Mrs. Verdi Bixel, of Lost [sic] Angeles. — From Ritzville Newspaper.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1928 Jul 4 p. 3

text of obituary:

Rev. David D. King

Rev. David D. King, the sixth child of Daniel and Katherine King, was born in Putnam County, Ohio near Pandora, on December 18, 1874. At the age of seventeen he was baptized and united with the Mennonite Church of Pandora and Bluffton, Ohio.

In the year of 1898 he was united in marriage with Katie Badertscher of Bluffton, Ohio. They lived in happiness together, sharing life's burdens, its joys and sorrows, for nearly thirty years. To this union four children were born, all of whom survive. As a young man he spent several years in preparation for his life's work at the German Wallace College and National Theological Seminary of Berea, Ohio. He was ordained to the ministry on June 128, 1905 and the day preceeding [sic] his death marked the twenty-third anniversary of his service for the Master. During this period he served the Bethel Mennonite Church at Fortuna, Missouri for thirteen years, the Mennonite Church of Monroe, Washington for six month while on a leave of absence for his health, three years he served as assistant to Reverend W. C. Gottschall of the Sw3iss Mennonite Church at Pandora and Bluffton, Ohio. For nearly seven years he has served the Menno and Ruff Mennonite Churches as pastor, being in the midst of his work when his life suddenly ended on June 19, 12928 at the age of fifty-three years, six months and two days. He was actively engaged during all his years in furthering the work of the Master, of his churches of his denomination and he has served as a member of the Board of trustees for Bluffton College for eight years. He further has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the General Conference of Mennonites of North America and has also been just recently reelected as president of the Pacific District Conference. He leaves to mourn, his deeply bereaved wife, four children, William Harley, of Flagstaff, Arizona; Mrs. Verdi Bixel of Loss Angeles, California, Violetta M. of Lewiston, Idaho and Herbert, one grandchild Lois Marie Bixel, three sisters and one brother also survive all of whom reside in Ohio.

Interment was made at the Menno cemetery with Reverend M. J. Galle of Aberdeen, Idaho, Reverend P. R. Aeschliman of Colfax, Washington, Dr. J. Quiring of Bluffton, Ohio and Reverend S. S. Baumgartner of Portland, Oregon officiating. The male quartet of the Oneka church of Washington and the choir of Menno and Ruff rendered appropriate songs. The large attendance of about five hundred people proved taht [sic] Brother King's work had been appreciated and has not been in vain in the community where he lived and his influence will be felt for many years hereafter.