ROBERT (BOB) F. KING, SANFORD and LIMESTONE, MAINE- Bob sounded his last note on April 26, 2020 after decades of playing his trumpet, and is now accompanying the angels as they make beautiful music in Heaven.  He was born on March 7, 1938 in Rochester NH to Reginald W. and Isabelle (Blackadar) King.  The family moved to Durham N.H. when Bob and his brother, Walter, were in elementary school.

He started trumpet lessons early on with Mr. J.E.A. Bilodeau in Rochester. Bob would take a bus to Rochester and stay with his maternal grandparents on Friday night.  He would have his lesson on Saturday morning and stay with his paternal grandparents where his Grampa King would spoil him with a steak while his grandparents and two aunts would have the traditional beans and franks.  His two aunts, Elsie and Ruth, never let him forget that bit of history!  He loved all of the King and Blackadar families immensely.  Bob started playing in public at a young age and was usually accompanied by his Aunt Lucy at such functions as a Grange installation of officers.  As his musical skills progressed, he was accepted into the Dover Community Band at an age younger than most, and they had the honor of performing for President Harry S Truman when he was campaigning for re-election in 1948.

Bob attended Dover High School for three years, and was among the first graduating class at Durham's new Oyster River High School in 1956.  He performed in both high school bands during that time.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1958 during which time he had the privilege of serving on the USS Canberra and sailed the seas doing a World Peace Tour.  The band that Bob was a member of played at the pleasure of the fleet Admiral.  Their most important duty was to play the national anthem of each country at the port of entry.  Bob worked as a radio operator aboard ship when the band didn't have performing duties.  While performing in Navy Bands on land, Bob also had the honor of performing for Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy.  He also had the privilege of playing Taps at Arlington Cemetery during his post in Virginia.  He liked Navy life and made many friends during his four years.  Bob was honorably discharged in August, 1962 and returned to Durham where he re-enrolled at UNH and graduated with a B.S. Music Ed. Degree.

Bob married Marilyn Chase in 1961 and together they raised two sons, Stephen and Charles (Chuck), in Limestone Maine where he had been hired as the instrumental music teacher for grades four through twelve in 1966.

What he thought would be a two to three-year stint there to get some experience and then move back to the Durham area turned out to be a most rewarding teaching career of 33 years in the town we called home.  Bob truly loved teaching and seeing the students blossom and grow in their musical abilities.  When asked what he taught, his mantra was, "I teach students."  He taught with the goal that each one should reach his/her potential and to really appreciate and gain a love of all music for its ability to fill their lives with joy and peace.

Bob was a very caring and devoted family man and friend.  He had a world of patience, a dry wit and could see the humor in life.  In conversation though, if you didn't hear what he said because you were busy interrupting, he wouldn't repeat himself – and Marilyn can vouch for that!

Throughout his life, Bob was a member of many musical groups from dance combos and bands to symphony and chamber orchestras.  He especially liked gigs in the McLaughlin Big Band and the UMPI Band where he played next to his very good friend and fellow trumpeter, Kevin Kinsey.  He also re-organized and directed the Central Aroostook Community Band for ten years after his retirement from teaching. Bob was always honored to be called upon to play taps for veterans who had served our country.

Bob and Marilyn lived 50 years in Limestone during which time Bob was  active in a number of community organizations and projects.  He was a charter member and past president of the Limestone-Caswell Historical Society.  He initiated the rewording on a Limestone welcoming sign, designed by Reno LeBrun, after the closure of Loring Air Force Base.  With many strong, helpful hands doing the work the project was completed.

Bob was a member of the Limestone United Methodist Church since 1966, sang in the choir for a number of years, and played trumpet solos for services when asked.  The congregation especially looked forward to hearing his trumpet sound on Easter Sunday service.  He also served as president of the LUMC Men's Club for a number of years and they were the keepers of the somber Maundy Thursday Service, as well as accomplishing much to improve the church and parsonage buildings.

In his later years, Bob loved to tell of the humorous antics that he and his friend, David Ford, did during their school years.  When prompted, he also regaled people with the Durham bank robbery that happened on March 16, 1954 when he had just turned sixteen.  He was scheduled for his driver's license in Dover, NH the following Friday.  He said he thought he would have passed no matter what because all the MVD tester wanted to do was talk about the robbery.

When Bob started showing signs of memory loss, Bob and Marilyn started downsizing in 2012 with the idea of moving closer to family.  They moved to Sanford Maine in 2015 where they have established a small group of friends along with having family close by and making visits.  They have been touched by their Limestone friends who have visited with them and all the others who have reached out by phone, cards, notes, and emails over the past five years.

Bob has been under the care of the excellent staff at Pinnacle Health & Rehab North Berwick (formerly Varney Crossing) since July, 2019 where Marilyn could visit every day until March 12, 2020 when the coronavirus struck our state.  The family is so grateful for the loving care he received there.  The family was fortunate, too, that Pinnacle North Berwick has not had any cases of Covid-19 and the immediate family was able to surround him with love during his last hours.  So very many have not been able to have that peaceful closure.

Bob was predeceased by his parents and his son, Stephen.  He is survived by his wife of 59 years of Sanford, Maine, his son, Charles and his wife, Donna, of Kittery, Maine, his brother, Walter and his wife, Constance, of Rochester, New Hampshire, his grandchildren, Michael (Bobbi) Spencer of Cape Neddick, Maine, James (Amy) Nightingale of Wells, Maine, Angela (Carl) Wilder of Kittery, Maine, Nicole Halvorson of Seabrook, New Hampshire, Kristin (Joshua) Baisden, and his great grandchildren Alexis, Hayden, and Khloie Baisden, all of Middleton, Idaho, Hannah Nightingale, Ethan Nightingale, Christopher Spencer, Hunter Denis, and Amber Wilder, several sisters-in-law and their spouses, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family thanks all those who have been a caring and loving part of Bob's life journey.

Services are under the care of J. S. Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Road, Kittery, Maine 03904 where a service will take place at a later date. If you wish to make a contribution in Bob's memory please consider:Pinnacle North Berwick Activities Account, 47 Elm Street, North Berwick, Maine 03906Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route 1, Scarborough, Maine 04074 or www.alz.org (click on "Search" for the Maine chapter)Limestone-Caswell Historical Society, c/o Marilyn Beaulieu, 275 Grand Falls Road, Limestone, Maine 04750