Raymond Charles King, 96, of Massillon, Ohio died peacefully on June 25, 2012.

Ray was born in Doylestown, Ohio on August 6, 1915. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth (Peters) and Jacob P. King, his sisters, Mary Haubert, Elizabeth Saucer, and Catherine Fink, and his wife of 29 years Mary Frances (Barthelemy) King who died in 1970, and wife of 38 years Isabel V. (Ertle) King who died in 2010.

Raymond is survived by his children and their spouses, Joan and David Krantz, David and Diane King, and Fran and Henk DeRee, his nine grandchildren and their spouses, Mark and Gina Krantz, Matt Krantz and Nancy Gondo, Mary and Dan Neuenschwander and Mike Krantz and Jenny Soares, Cheryl and Mike Hamilton, and Julie and Brian Kingsmith, Henk and Emily DeRee, Chuck DeRee and Stacy Meyer, and Ann and Kevin Nicol, along with his 17 great-grandchildren, Maria, Julia and Marco Krantz, Leilani Krantz, David and Andrew Neuenschwander, baby Krantz, Joshua and Anne Hamilton, Alexandria, Riley, and Ansley DeRee, Joshua and Nathan DeRee, and Mamie, Lucy and Johanna Nicol. He is also survived by many loving extended family and friends. Ray worked on his father's farm outside of Doylestown until age 21. Then he worked at Hoover Co. in North Canton as a common laborer. He wanted to learn a trade so he became an apprentice machinist at Frank Kessel Machine Shop in Massillon starting without pay. During World War II years he worked at Griscum-Russel, a National Defense company in Massillon making distill plants used on Naval ships to desalinate salt water. He worked in their tool shop. After the war he returned to Hoover Co. in North Canton as a machinist in their experimental dept. Later he decided to start up his own business, 'Kings Machine and Tool Company' in Massillon, Ohio. Originally he just manufactured expander pins for Griscum-Russel, later renamed MRM. When MRM was sold out to a Philadelphia firm, Ray began making header dies for Tyson Roller Bearings in Massillon. His business grew dramatically even regaining business from former MRM employees that spread out across the US, allowing him to diversify his work and to employ several individuals. Eventually Raymond retired and sold his business in 1979 to his chief employee Bill Kaper who to this day has still carried on the name as King Machine & Tool Co. in Massillon's SW Industrial Park. Raymond generously worked for and supported his church, St. Mary's Catholic Church of Massillon as well as donating to Canton Central Catholic High School and St. Joseph's College in Renseelaer, Indiana. He was a former member of Knights of Columbus. After retirement he spent his winters in Largo, Florida where me made many friends and was active in his community.

Friends may call on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 from 5 to 8 P.M. at Heitger Funeral Home - Massillon Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 10 A.M. at St. Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Edward Gretchko, Fr. Robert Kaylor and Msgr. James Kolp celebrants. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Mercy Medical Center Hospice, 7568 Whipple Av. N.W., North Canton, Ohio 44720.

Heitger Funeral Home and Cremation Service - Massillon Chapel (330) 833-3248 'Massillon's Oldest Family Owned Business'