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Jean Johnson King

Jean Johnson King passed away peacefully on the night of Oct. 18, 2024, at age 98. She was born on April 9, 1926, in Meriden, to Ruth Rogers Johnson and Foster Macy Johnson. Jean grew up in Meriden and attended Mount Holyoke College, where she pursued a major in art history and a minor in religion.

After graduation in 1947, she married Roger Wilkinson King. Roger was a graduate of the University of North Carolina and worked as a Manufacturing Rep. Together, the couple had four children: Wendy Lee King was born in 1951, Thomas Foster King was born in 1952, Charles Raymond King was born in 1954, and William Johnson King was born in 1958.

At the start of her career, Jean worked in occupational therapy, but she decided to make a midlife career change into the infant travel agency industry in 1973. Urged on by her husband Roger, Jean formed her own travel agency, King Travelways, in 1975.

Operations started small. Her first customer was greeted by a large room furnished with only a single desk and one lone employee, Jean. From these humble beginnings, King Travelways expanded, shepherding thousands of travelers across the globe in the following years. Jean climbed the ancient mountains of the Peloponnese in Greece, planned over forty safaris on the dry prairies of Africa, and frequently took trips across the Atlantic to London. One could ask Jean of a place, “Have you been there?” and “Yes” seemed to always be the answer.

In 2008, Jean left her lifelong home in Meriden and moved to Elim Park, where she lived contentedly for the last sixteen years. Out of the den in her room, she continued to organize trips, which she went on into her late nineties.

Jean King lived a full life and aged with dignity and grace. As the King family matron, she presided over a large and vivacious family, which she saw grow into several generations. Always active within her community, she dedicated countless hours to civic organizations, including the Kiwanis Club. Perhaps one of her most enduring traits was her boundless energy for doing what she loved. Where many choose to live a more sedentary lifestyle as their physical abilities decline, Jean instead continued to travel, bringing together her friends and family on countless, memory-filled trips around the world.

She is survived by her sons, Tom King (Laurie) of Branford and Chuck King (Barbara) of Meriden, and her daughter-in-law, Susan King. She is also survived by her brother, Foster Johnson, Jr. (Bo) of Proctorsville, Vermont. Her grandchildren are Jamie King (Christen), Ashley King Aguiar (Tony), Alyson King, Amy King Anderson (Jake), Trevor King, Jillian King Bevis (Kyle), Griffin King (Chelsey), Christian King, Bryan Baker (Liane), and Alex Romanowicz (Amanda). She also leaves behind thirteen great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Roger, her infant daughter, Wendy Lee, and her son, William Johnson.

Family and friends were invited to call on Oct. 26 at the John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main Street, Meriden. Burial will be private. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust online at www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/nursery-visit or Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care online at franciscanhc.org. For online condolences, please visit jferryfh.com.