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Notes for Rhea King:
Rhea King, youngest daughter of Habersham and Becky King, wanted to be a librarian. She attended school at Agnes Scott College but left to marry Charles H. Fonde, who she had met while visiting her sister in Knoxville, TN. Pictures from the time show that she was a beautiful woman with thick dark hair and lovely eyes and skin. She and Charlie celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1971. Her Christian faith was very important to her and she was actively involved in the Episcopal church for many years. One of her projects was to organize and maintain the church's library. When our family visited her in July, 1991, she was still living in her own home and couldn't wait to show us her vegetable garden and compost pile. At her 100th birthday party she was surrounded by her family and friends, including Patricia Neal (the actress) and a diocesan bishop. One of her great-grandchildren told her "Grandma, we want you to live another 100 years." To which she replied, "Why, by that time I'd only be about 4 inches tall!" (referring to the fact that she keeps getting shorter). At age 104, she resided in an assisted living home called Weston Place, and was involved in a project called "Affirmative Aging". She continued to read theological or inspirational books, and to write fascinating and funny letters to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On January 5, 1997, Grandma Rhea King Fonde died peacefully in her sleep. She fell and broke her hip on December 28, 1996, ten days after her 104th birthday. For Christmas she had given all her children a book entitled, "A Longing for Home" by Frederick Buechner. Before she died she began to speak of this book to family members who were sitting by her bed, and they realized from what she said that it was her farewell gift to them.
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