Mary Bolz King's Obituary
Mary Bolz King (94) passed away peacefully at Christwood Retirement Community on October 26, 2019. She was comforted by family and her loving husband and best friend Frank. The child of Henry Frank Bolz and Margaret Harrington Bolz, Mary was born in New London, CT. and raised in Groton, CT, where she was known as the smart and pretty girl who loved friends, school, and parties. Mary went on to attend and graduate from Connecticut College, where she met her one true love Frank King, who was then assigned to a submarine based in Groton, CT. They soon married (1946) and went on to have 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren over their 73 years together.
Through the many Navy years, Mary took in stride the more than a dozen moves across multiple states and coasts, always meeting new friends and joining up with older ones. She settled many new homes; she jostled multiple school enrollments and appointments with new dentists and doctors; and she was always there to make sure everything went well for Frank and their children. When Frank retired from the USN Submarine Force in 1968, Mary gracefully accompanied Frank and the three children still at home to New Orleans, where Frank entered a new career in the oil and gas industry. Undaunted by the challenge, Mary settled her children in new schools and eagerly went forward to meet new friends and become a part of the New Orleans community, which was to be her and Frank’s home for the next 51 years.
Mary was a wonderful mother, always attentive, always advising, and always loving. In good times and in bad times, she was always there with love, words to help, and solace when needed. She never missed anyone’s birthdays (friends or family), and she was always volunteering. She was a great Girl Scout leader; she helped new immigrants and others in need to learn to read, sew, and manage money; she taught Great Books; she raised funds for the New Orleans Symphony; and she was active in the Philanthropic Educational Organization of Louisiana.
Mary also loved to have fun. Especially in her younger days, she loved having and attending dinner parties with friends. In her later years at Diamond Head MS, she never liked to miss a party at the Club. Mary could not travel to enough different places, and Frank always obliged her. They travelled to many, many countries, leaving almost no continent untouched by their visits. She was an avid golfer and often volunteered at the New Orleans PGA Tournament. Mary was also always up for a game of bridge. She loved talking with her friends (new and old) about just about anything; she cherished her visits and calls with her children and grandchildren; and mostly, she adored her special times with Frank. Some of Mary’s and Frank’s most favorite times were the annual week-long family reunions usually held at Kiawah SC, which went on continuously for 33 years. Everyone came, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. These were times for wonderful family dinners, great games, children’s mischief, and raucous discussions, which all cherished.
Mary is survived by her devoted husband, Frank; her five children: Gary King (Susan), Nancy Ray (Charlie Underwood), Henry King (Cary), Michelle Cartwright (Mark), and Gail King; her eleven grandchildren: Catherine King, Heather King (Brett Baker), Maile Ray, Matthew Cartwright, Marguerite Marschner (Richard), Lucy King, Spencer King , Miles Cartwright (Brittany Guarino), Marshall Stock (Sarah), Sally Stock and Marykate Cartwright; and five great grandchildren: Ethan Fisk, Jackson Fisk, Gray Baker, Henry Baker and Adelaide Marschner.
The family thanks the management and the wonderful staff members at Christwood for their care and loving attention to Mary. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service in the Garden Room at Christwood on Monday, November 11 at 2 p.m. and the reception following. In lieu of flowers please make donations to P.E.O. Foundation, 370 Grand Avenue, Des Moines IA 50312 with a memo to credit Chapter AS-LA.
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