Ann Gail King

 Ann Gail Wilson King, 81, of Wamego, Kansas, passed away on Saturday (November 2, 2024) at Valley Vista in Wamego.

Gail was born June 23, 1943 at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to John Noah Wilson and Evelyn Ruth Farley Wilson, who preceded her in death. She has two sisters, Judy McConnell Cox of Raleigh, NC and Sharon Wells (Steve) of Anchorage, AK. They have several children and grandchildren. 

Since her father was a United Methodist Minister, she lived in quite a few towns in Tennessee. She attended four high schools, finally graduating from Hay Long High School in Mount Pleasant, TN. She received an associate degree from Martin Junior College and then transferred to the University of Kansas, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy.

While at the University of Kansas, she met Robert Lyle (Bob) King. Gail and Bob were married in Nashville on September 10, 1966. Bob survives at their home.

For the next two years, Gail worked as an Occupational Therapist at the Capper Foundation in Topeka, KS while her husband attended graduate school at the University of Kansas. They moved to Wamego, KS for about one year during which time Gail started with the school system. Their first son, Christopher, was born during that time. 

In early 1970, the family moved to Ft. Scott, KS, living there until early 1979. Gail was active in the First Christian Church and also worked for the school system in special education co-op. During their stay in Ft. Scott, Gail gave birth to their second son, Todd, and their daughter, Jennifer. While in Ft. Scott, Gail was instrumental in establishing the Tri-Valley Developmental Corporation, which has grown over the years and still serves developmentally challenged individuals with training and housing. 

In 1979, the family of five moved to Wamego, KS where Gail worked with the special education arm of the local school system, traveling to Green, Westmoreland, Paxico, Alma and the local schools in Wamego. Gail was very active in the First United Methodist Church in Wamego, spending countless hours as a volunteer at the Thrift Shop operated by the Women of the Church. She attended many conferences within Kansas and some neighboring states and was a lay speaker when asked. She also wrote numerous grants, including a grant to get Stephen Ministry started and helped in transitioning of joining conferences.

The after-graduation celebration at Wamego High School, serving as a 4-H Leader in Wamego and being on the Board of Directors at Big Lakes were among many of her accomplishments, but her greatest achievement was the raising of her three children who currently reside in Wamego.

Gail enjoyed traveling including many trips with her sisters. She visited her sister Judy in Raleigh, NC and together they covered the East Coast from Maine to Key West on many long and short trips. Together Gail and Judy also toured Europe on a bus trip, covering 16 countries. The last trip they were able to take was to drive from Kansas to the Rocky Mountain National Park in Canada and back across the upper United States. Over the years she visited Sharon in Alaska many times and even managed to coax Bob on along for their 40th anniversary.

Gail worked at the Wamego Drug Store doing bank deposits until her dementia started. She spent the last two years at Good Samaritan Society Valley Vista in Wamego under the very loving, caring, and competent staff at the home. Her family is forever grateful.

Her husband, Bob; sons, Christopher King (Helen) and Todd King (Sabine Ginavan); daughter, Jennifer Crane (Lee); grandchildren, Noah King, Eli King, Melissa Ginavan, Nic Ginavan and Sam Crane; along with many friends and relatives will miss her caring and fun loving personality.

Memorial services will be held Saturday morning (November 9, 2024) at 11:00 at the First United Methodist Church in Wamego with Pastor Alex Rossow officiating. Private family inurnment will be in the King Cemetery near Fostoria, KS.

The family will meet with friends on Saturday morning from 10:00 until the time of services at First United Methodist Church in Wamego.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Church of Wamego, Alzheimer’s Association, Capper Foundation or the charity of the donor’s choice. Those may be sent to Campanella & Stewart Funeral Home, P. O. Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547. Online condolences may be left at www.campanellastewart.com