William Davies King, 89, of Canton, died peacefully at his Avondale home on May 20. A physician, with specialty in head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat, he retired from service in 1999 after 54 of practicing. Eldest son of Clair and Marian King, he was born in Niles, Ohio, and moved to Canton at the age of two, graduating from Lehman High School in 1941. He attended Grove City College for a year, then followed his high school sweetheart, Janet McKown, to Denison University. The war prevented his graduation, but he completed medical school prerequisites at Mount Union and entered Case Western Reserve medical school as a private in the U.S. Army. He and Janet married on August 14, 1944, at Camp Pendleton, in California, where Clair was serving as captain in the Navy. A daughter, Cynthia, was born in 1947, while he was doing his internship in Cleveland. Later, he studied ophthalmology at Harvard University. They returned to Canton in 1954, and he went into practice with his father in the First National Bank Building. Three sons were born over the next few years, William Davies, who is now professor of theater at University of California Santa Barbara, Andrew James, now head of Division of Nephrology at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California, and Peter Herbruck, professor and vice chair of Neurology at University of Alabama, Birmingham. Bill and Janet were among the seven founding families of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in 1955. Cindy lives amid friends at the Canton Health Care Center. A lifelong tenor and anchor of the church choir, Bill was also a Sunday school teacher, member of the vestry, and financial supporter. He loved golf, ping pong, tennis, bowling, and a good joke. He and Janet had many warm friendships in the Canton area but enjoyed frequent visits to their eight grandchildrenJanet, Helen, Ruthie, Liam, Nathan, Nora, Eva, and Dannyand daughters-in-law Wendy Lukomski, Dianne McKay, and Pamela King. Bill's sister Shirley, her husband and four children also lived in Canton for many years. She passed away in Alameda, California in 2000. His wife of 66 years died peacefully on December 26, 2010, owing in large part to the loving care of Audrey and Bob Wendling, who stood by him until the end. Over many years, his garden grew larger and larger, offering his friends and family bountiful harvests of vegetables, flowers, berries, apple sauce, and the best tomatoes you can eat. He will be remembered by the many people who loved him as a person who always brought a playful spirit to the world, inspiring laughter and good feeling. A memorial service will be held Thursday 1:00 p.m. in St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 515 48th St. NW. with Fr. Dustin Berg officiating. The family will receive friends following ther service at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, 408 9th St. SW, Canton, Ohio, 44707 (Attn: Fund Development) or www.goodwillgoodskills.org. (Arnold-Canton 330-456-7291) www.arnoldfuneralhome.com