Friday, January 29, 2016

EDITORIAL >> Custodian passes away

Kenneth L. King, 60, of North Little Rock passed away on Jan. 16. He was a big, quiet fellow who kept the Jacksonville post office clean for more than 25 years.

He seldom said very much as he mopped the floor. He’d say hello to people he recognized, and he’d even have an occasional conversation with visitors. He was always friendly if people asked him for information about their mail. Sometimes he’d knock on the back door if the counter clerks had closed up shop, and he’d get people their package.

Hardly anybody knew his name. We were just the newspaper people to him. But he kept the place clean for a long time. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with the filth people dropped in the parking lot. There’d be dirty diapers and broken glass and lots of cigarette butts. He never complained, though.

Then suddenly he was gone. The Jacksonville post office will not be the same without him. Rest in Peace, Mr. King. May your memory be a blessing.

To defray the cost of his funeral, please send a contribution in Mr. King’s name to ACTS Church, 1224 Franklin St., North Little Rock, Ark. 72114.