Orville Newton King (Newt) passed away peacefully at his home on July 7, 2021, with his children, Kim King and Chris King, at his side.
Newt was born March 10, 1940, in Los Angles, California, to Margaret Lo Ree Loomis King and Ivan L. King when Ivan was stationed there while in the service. When he was seven, he moved with his parents and sister, Kay, to the Joseph H. King homestead in the Amherst community in Russell County, Kansas. The family homestead, established in 1878, became home throughout the years for three generations of Kings.
He graduated from Luray High School in 1958 and was awarded a football scholarship to attend the University of Kansas where he was a member of the Blue Bonnet Bowl football team. He also was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy.
After graduation, he married his college sweetheart, Mary Ann Howard, and they moved to Beloit, Kansas, where he worked for Bunch Drugs. In 1965, he and Mary Ann moved to Lawrence when he was offered a job with the Medical Arts Pharmacy. In 1976, he bought his first pharmacy at 944 Kentucky Street in Lawrence and moved King Pharmacy to the Lawrence Medical Building in 1980. He received the Small Businessperson of the Month award from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce in September 2001 and maintained King Pharmacy until he retired in 2007.
While he spent much of his life in Lawrence, he never lost his love for Russell County. His favorite book was Prairy Erth, and he gained an appreciation and renewed interest in native plants and their medicinal uses having studied them in pharmacy school. During his years of practice, he formulated several preparations using Echinacea, and opened the first compounding-only pharmacy in Topeka in 1987 with colleague Jim Schwartz. This brought to the community of pharmacy the ability to compound time-release medication, something that had not been done by a pharmacist, and for which Newt was honored as the Compounding Pharmacist of the Year by the Professional Compounding Center in 1988.
Post-retirement, Newt remained active in causes honoring the Kansas prairie. He re-enacted The Last Cattle Drive by author Robert Day in Russell County in 2007. In 2015, he received the Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award from the Kansas Bankers Association and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann King, in 2010. He is survived by his sister, Kay King Dette and her husband, Bernard; his daughter Kim King and her sons, Grant and Brenner Gollier; his son, Chris King and his wife, Megan Campbell King, and their sons Harrison, Ben and Josh King.
A born storyteller, Newt could often be found over the years surrounded by family and friends at his cabin at Lone Star Lake, fishing and telling stories over his homemade, hand-churned vanilla ice cream.
A celebration of life is scheduled from 1 – 4 p.m. on July 25 at Arterra Event Gallery in Lawrence. Donations in Newt’s honor can be made through Rumsey-Yost to the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club or the Nature Conservancy. His family wishes to thank the KU Medical Center vascular surgery team, LMH Health, Dr. Stephen Myrick, Dr. Scott Solcher, Ben Sanders and the Davita Care Center and the Visiting Nurses Association hospice for their kind care of Newt in his final days.
Thank you for a great day of celebration. God bless you all!
Newton was a wonderful pharmacist and man. He will be greatly missed! My thoughts and prayers are with his entire family during this very difficult time.
So sorry to hear, he will be missed at Lone Star Lake, my condolences to all of you from your cabin neighbors.
Met Newt in 1987 and we started a new kind of Pharmacy. Built many memories along the way. Newt enjoyed life to the fullest.
He will be missed. My condolences to the Family.
Jim Schwartz
Kim, I was sorry to learn of your father’s death. I pray God will comfort and give you peace especially during the sad times. Hugs to you, Kim. Your Friend!
On behalf of the Hillcrest Neighborhood Association, in which Newt was an active participant, our sincere condolences. He was a faithful attendee and a favorite storyteller at our potlucks, and his absence will be noted, but his spirit will prevail.
Kim,
I am truly sorry for your loss. I truly enjoyed having him in my tai chi class. When he first came to my class, he made sure I know that you are his daughter. Keep the great memories tucked in your heart in a safe place.
I will miss Newt. He was a good friend I enjoyed fishing with and learning from…. love and condolences to Kim and her family.
Dear Kim, Chris and Megan, Newt was a great friend to Glenn and our family. I extend my heart felt sympathy to you and all your children. Fondly, Susie Madsen Lounsbury
Dear Kim and Chris: Newt and I were Charter members of the Lawrence Breakfast Cosmopolitan club 53 years ago. We also had a great fondness for author, Robert Day. The Last Cattle Drive. He was a great friend and will be missed. Sincere condolences.
Dear Kim and Chris: Your dad was was a co-charter member of the group now known as Lawrence Breakfast Cosmos, in 1968. We shared a great affinity for Last Cattle Drive author, Bob Day. Newt was a good friend and he will be missed.
I am sorry to hear of Mr. King’s passing. He was kind to my father when my father was terminally ill and went out of his way to help him.
So sorry to hear about Newt. I loved hearing his stories of past adventures. He was a proud father and grandfather. Thoughts and prayers to Chris and family.
Friends and neighbors on Yale Road for many years. Sorry for the loss of your dad. Thoughts and prayers for Chris, Kim and your families ❤️?.
Newt was an amazing fellow. I first met him in the Deli House at KU and followed him since. Hard working, honest, and a friend! And a “Last round up Cowboy!” My sympathy to his family.
Dear family, How much I have enjoyed you all. Especially Newt, when I would go
To the pharmacy and when I saw him and family at ball games. God Bless you all , he was such a contributor to the Lawrence community.
Knew Newt for 50 years. He was an original. Condolences to Kim and all the family.
Ken Wertzberger
Dear Kim, I’m so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. I am keeping you and your family in my heart and prayers for comfort through this difficult time.