Dorothy Hitchcock King

Dorothy Hitchcock King, age 88, died peacefully in her sleep on Aug. 19 at her home.

She was born Feb. 13, 1917 in Shoshone, Idaho, to Mae Smith Hitchcock and Douglas Ewing Hitchcock.

Soon after her sister, Margaret, was born three years later, the family moved to Dash Point, Wash.

She enjoyed swimming in Puget Sound and swam several times from Dash Point to Vashon Island. Her love of the water was an integral part of her life.

She graduated from Stadium High School and went on to major in chemistry at the University of Washington, where she met Donald King.

They were married in Tacoma on Sept. 16, 1939.

In 1941, she received her pilot’s license and trained to fly cargo planes to Europe during World War II. Her plans changed when she gave birth to her first child in September 1942. The couple raised their four children on Capitol Hill in Seattle.

She was a wonderful mother and an avid volunteer in her community. In Seattle, she was active with the Milk Fund, Neighborhood House, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Children’s Activity Center, the Crittendon Home and many other agencies.

After raising her family, she returned to the UW and earned a B.A. in sociology with an emphasis on education and become a Montessori-certified teacher.

In 1972, the family moved to Bainbridge Island, where she started Montessori Country School. While teaching and directing the school, she recognized the community’s need for a center to coordinate services for those in need. She was instrumental in starting Helpline House on Bainbridge Island and she continued to work on behalf of the agency for more than 25 years.

She and her husband loved their home and garden, sailing, playing bridge and entertaining family and friends.

She was a passionate reader and a phenomenal gardener. She was also a seeker of truth and knowledge with a strong faith in the goodness of humanity, seeing the best in everybody.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Donald; her sons, Kris and Gordy; her daughters, Carolyn Leigh (Tom) and Patty Christensen (Dick); seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Her family thanks friends and caregivers for their love and support. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made through a donation to: Montessori Country School, Helpline House on Bainbridge Island, or the Nature Conservancy.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 1 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.