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KING JAMES "TODD"
JAMES "TODD" KING
James "Todd" King was born on October 13th, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio to Gerald E. King and Betty McQuistan King. He moved with his family to Lima, Ohio in 1950 where he attended Lima Shawnee School through the ninth grade. He then moved with his family to Perrysburg, Ohio where he graduated from Perrysburg High School in 1967. While in high school he was an avid athlete and excelled at basketball, his first love. He also developed a life long interest in cars and loved to sketch and paint. After graduation, he entered Albion College in Albion, Michigan where he majored in English. While there, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Upon graduation from Albion, Todd traveled to Europe and throughout the United States before returning to Bowling Green State University where he received his teaching credentials. He subsequently earned his Masters of Arts from Cleveland State University in 1981.
Todd joined the staff of Beachwood High School in Beachwood, Ohio in 1973, where he taught American literature and expository writing for his entire career. He had a profound impact on the students he taught during his 20-year career at Beachwood. He was also instrumental in the restructuring of the English curriculum for the State of Ohio Board of Education. He contracted Multiple Sclerosis in 1992 and was forced to retire from teaching the following year.
Todd married Gayle Christine Freer in 1973. They had three sons, James Andrew, Scott Reynolds, and Tyler Ross. His sons were the love of his life. He had other loves as well; his thousands of students, his writing (four novels, many short stories and poems, and innumerable letters to the editor of various newspapers). He was also an accomplished artist, working in both oil and acrylics.
Todd is survived by his three sons; James, Scott and Tyler; his father, Gerald; and brother, Richard; one nephew and three nieces.
A memorial service will be held for his family, friends and former students at Landerhaven, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, 5 p.m., Saturday, June 19th. Arrangements by Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
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