Orpha A. 'Queenie' (Roach) King

As her children softly sang to her, Orpha A. “Queenie” King, 94, slipped peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday morning, July 19th, at her residence. She was the wife of the late Brian King. She was born in York, PA, on May 20, 1920, the daughter of John W. and Fannie K. Roach. She was a graduate of William Penn Senior High Class of 1937, and Florida Bible Institute (FBI), Temple Terrace, FL. From the time of her conversion at age 16, she was a member of the York Gospel Center where she was a soloist, choir member and Sunday school teacher. While at FBI she was a member of the original Billy Graham trio that sang for his early crusades. She and her husband, Brian, met in a Calgary, ALTA, Canada, radio studio where Brian was pianist and she was soloist. After their marriage in 1942, they traveled extensively in musical ministry. Together, they instilled in their children a love for God and for music and faithfully prayed for and nurtured them in both. She chaired the Christian Women’s Club of York, and later served as a secretary of the evangelistic ministry of her son-in-law, Ron Susek, and assisted her daughter, Diane, in her musical ministry. She is survived by a son, Adrian Buddy King; a daughter, Diane King Susek and husband, Ron; grandson, Jonathan King and wife, Margarita; and Jonathan’s mother, Darry Thomas. Survivors also include her sister-in-law, Marian Roach, several cousins and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her brothers, James Roach and Leo Roach and sisters, Katharine Roach and Lois Glassmyer. Visitation will be Thursday, July 24th, from 7-9 PM, at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York. A celebration of her life (with Ron Susek officiating and assisted by Pastor Robert Riedy) will be held on Friday, July 25th, at 11 AM at the Church of the Open Door, 8 Carlisle Court, York, PA, with a visitation from 9:30 – 10:45 AM. Interment will be held in Mount Rose Cemetery. As per her request, contributions in her memory may be made to Child Evangelism of Eastern Pennsylvania, P.O. Box 4375, Harrisburg, PA 17111; Susek Evangelistic Association, P.O. Box 3007, Gettysburg, PA 17325; and America’s Keswick, 601 Rt. 530, Whiting, NJ, 08759. Queenie (as Brian named her) had many friends across the country and her shining example of the Lord’s love and grace was a blessing to many. Her children, Buddy and Diane and grandson, Jonathan, cherished her as a most wonderful mother and grandmother. Proverbs 31:28a - “her children rise up and bless her.” She is finally home.