With gratitude in our hearts for a life well-lived, the King family shares the peaceful passing of Charles Adams King on January 22nd, 2026. He passed within just a few miles of Nashua, Missouri, where he was born on April 29, 1935 to Charles “Jack” and Martha (Adams) King.
Proud to come from a long-time Clay County family, Charles grew up on Fair Acres Farm, which was located at what is now the southwest corner of 291 and 435 highways. He attended Liberty schools and excelled in academics, graduating as the valedictorian of his class. He was a member of the Future Farmers of America, and he played football - although he would tell you that his determination far outweighed his athletic skill. But, he was fascinated by the strategy, appreciated all that it taught him and the camaraderie and friendships he built during that time gave him great joy, and entertaining stories for a lifetime.
Charles and his family attended Mt. Olivet church early on but then became regular and active members of the Liberty Christian Church. It was there, at the young age of 14 that he met the “new girl” Maxine Wheeler. Charles was a freshman and Maxine a junior, so she didn’t give him much attention at first. But he was smitten, and his determined pursuit finally won her over with tickets to the show Oklahoma, in downtown Kansas City. That was the beginning of a long life shared.
Maxine was heading to nursing school at Washington University in St. Louis, so Charles proceeded to apply for and receive a scholarship there so they could go together. Charles joined the Kappa Alpha fraternity and studied to become an electrical engineer.
On March 28, 1956 Charles and Maxine were married at Liberty Christian Church. Charles was still just 20, so his mother had to sign the wedding license. After lots of hard work and fun times in St. Louis, Charles and Maxine both graduated and returned to make Kansas City their home.
They lived for a short time at the “old house” at Green Pastures Farm where Brenda Jo (Jody) was born and then settled in the north Kansas City area and Carol Anne and Charles Phillip (Tod) joined the family.
Charles began work at Proctor and Gamble but it wasn’t too long before he found his way to Kansas City Power and Light. He began work in the power plants. His levels of responsibility grew and eventually KCPL took the King family to Clinton, Missouri for about six years, while he served as the plant manager at the Montrose Power Plant.
KCPL brought them back home and Charles was promoted again, which required a move to an office in downtown Kansas City. He was fine with the work, but disliked office and organizational politics and snuck away to be at the power plants whenever he could – much preferring to see the machinery actually working, and even moreso, enjoying the camaraderie he found there. He enjoyed the relationships with coworkers at KCPL and brought stories home about their endeavors and their families. His intellect, humbleness, humor, and kind soul made him a good manager and many were proud to call him their boss.
It was when they returned to Kansas City that Charles and Maxine began work on the home that they had planned and dreamed of building on Green Pastures Farm. They truly designed and built it together, and for fifty years, alongside Maxine, Charles lived in the place that brought him peace; raising his family, fixing things and just spending time on his beloved farm. The only thing that made him happier than driving the tractor or his three-wheeler (Roscoe) around the pastures was when his children and grandchildren came to spend time with him and Maxine. Many family gatherings were held, and lots of love and laughter were shared at Green Pastures Farm.
As he got older and less mobile, he became a big fan of Google and Google Maps – adeptly using it to feed his insatiable curiosity about so many things, but especially civil war history, airplane crashes, old tractors, guns, Disciples of Christ church history and genealogy. He used Google Maps to locate obscure cemeteries where his ancestors were buried, to look at cities around the world that he had visited and to check out college campuses where his grandchildren were attending. Just in the past year, he watched the progress of the power plant in Tennessee where his grandson Charlie was working. Also through the magic of technology, he was able to virtually experience all of his grandchildren’s special graduations and weddings, and to Facetime with his new great-grandchildren.
Many were blessed by Charles being part of their lives, and Charles felt blessed by his 90 years – he did good work, had a peaceful home and a loving family, and he shared it all with his very best friend.
Charles is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Maxine; three children Jody (Tony) Mendes, Carol (Michael) Gonzales and Tod (Connie) King; his seven grandchildren Bryan (Sara) Mendes, Leah (Will) Peters, Natalie Gonzales, Erica (Quentin) Gonzales Engdahl, Ethan Gonzales, Madelyn King and Charlie King; his two great-grandchildren Eloise and Isaac. He is also survived by his brother Phil (Kay) King and his cousin, Joyce French.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28th at Liberty Christian Church, 427 E. Kansas Street, Liberty, Missouri 64068. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. Donations in Charles’ honor may be given to Liberty Christian Church.
