Randolph Linworth King, Nov. 1, 1937 – Oct. 11, 2023.
Mr. Randolph King will be laid to rest at Congressional Cemetery tomorrow and his family welcomes those who knew him to pay their respects.
“Mr. King was a welcoming face to all who entered our gates, and a fixture in our Congressional Family for many years,” Historic Congressional Cememtery (HCC) wrote in a message to members. “He will be missed dearly. We invite you to the celebration of life tomorrow to help us give him the send off he deserves.”
The service takes place Thursday, Nov. 2, with visitation from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by a Celebration of life at 10:30 a.m.
Burial and Military honors will follow. King was an expert and decorated sharpshooter while volunteering in the US Army from 1962 to 1963.
King died Oct. 11, 2023 following a brief illness just short of his 86th birthday. Two years earlier, he had retired from being a decades-long employee at Congressional, working not far from his long time family residence in the 1300 block of Independence Avenue SE. He often rode his bicycle to work.
Current and former staffers worked together to ensure that Mr. King would be buried on the grounds for which he cared so diligently and deeply, starting a fundraiser to relieve the family of the costs.
“King had a magic connection with Congressional Cemetery,” wrote former HCC President Paul Williams on a GoFundMe page to raise funds for funeral costs. “[A]bout ten years ago staff gently asked him where his favorite spot was, knowing we had to have him interred in the place he loved, right behind Marion Barry. He chose the spot and said he wouldn’t need it for 40 more years with his trademark giggle,” Williams continued.
“He wanted a casket burial when the time came, and Mr. King’s time has come.”
The GoFundMe raised more than $17,000, well in excess of the $12,000 goal.
The family requests anyone who is able to wear blue shirts, blue jeans, and sneakers in remembrance of his favorite attire to don. During the visitation, mourners are also invited to write a message on his casket.
HCC said they are expecting a large number of mourners to attend the services and enncouraged those attending to walk as parking will be limited.
Read Mr. King’s obituary here.
