KEESEVILLE — Velma Winifred King, 96, formerly of Hill Street, Keeseville, died peacefully, July 24, 2013, in Wilmington, Del., with her loving family by her side. She was born in Altona, on Jan. 21, 1916, the daughter of John and Anabel (Miller) Peryea. She married William Homer King on May 30, 1938.
She was preceded in death by her husband. Her survivors include her children, William (Barbara) W. King from Wake Forest, N.C., Jeanne (Charles) Harkin from Chadds Ford, Pa., Bruce (Sue) C. King from Clermont, Fla., Lydia (Douglas) Calkins from Westminster, Colo. Two of her children, Jacqueline A. (Melvin) Laforest and Robert N. King preceded her in death. Her siblings include three brothers, Bernard (Hortense) Peryea of Dannemora, Leo (Doris) Peryea of North Tonawanda, N.Y. and Norman (Clare) Peryea of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and two sisters, Thelma (Ray) Irwin of Peru, and Christina (Edward) Shepherd of Richmond, British Columbia. She also has seventeen grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Also six of her siblings preceded her in death. They included Anna (Ernest) King, Emma (Sam) King, John (Delma) Peryea, Leona (Sherry) Dobbs, Hortense (Maynard) Ashline and Muriel (Ed) Larsen.
She graduated from Peru Central School in 1936. While in high school she was active in sports, especially basketball. Velma enjoyed the opportunity to raise her six children as well as being the foster parent to 35 children of all ages and special needs.
After the death of her husband in 1963, Velma attended nurses training and graduated with her degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked for 18 years at CVPH in Plattsburgh. She worked many of her career years as an ambulance nurse. After her retirement in 1981, she enjoyed traveling to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and numerous other states.
She was a guest of Senator Tom Harkin at his 1985 U.S. Congressional Swearing-In Ceremony in Washington, DC. Velma was honored with the Wilfred Butler Award in 1995 from the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP). Her last year of volunteer service included more than 425 hours that consisted of blood pressure checks at the YMCA in Plattsburgh, working at the AuSable Community Outreach Center, driving for the Rural Transportation Program taking elderly patients to their medical appointments. She was a lifelong communicant of St. John the Baptist Church as well as a lifelong member of the Altar Rosary Society.
Calling hours will be 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, July 27, at the Hamilton Funeral Home, 124 Clinton Street, Keeseville. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. at St. Johns Church in Keeseville with Msgr. Leeward J. Poissant, celebrating. Committal prayers and burial will follow in the parish cemetery.
Donations in her memory may be made to Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP), 16 Flynn Avenue, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 or Hospice of the North Country, 358 Tom Miller Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.
Arrangements are in the care of the Hamilton Funeral Home, 124 Clinton Street, Keeseville. To light an online candle and offer condolences in the memory of Velma King please visit www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com
