Patrick Henry King

"May the road rise to meet you, and may the wind be always at your back..."  begins the Irish Blessing much loved and often recited by Pat King, of Mount Lebanon, who passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the age of 95. During his final days, he was comforted and surrounded by family and his dearest wife Claire, and she was telling him stories of how they met and other happy times as he left us.  Pat was the beloved husband of Claire Marie (Conrad) for 67 years, and together they created an energetic, caring, boisterous family and life which grew larger over the years than they could have imagined. 

Faith came first for Pat, and his lifelong Catholic faith was an ever present anchor and encouragement which he shared with his many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Whether telling stories of the saints and Bible to his own children and then later to his grandchildren, serving multiple years as a "Minute Man" fundraiser for St. Bernard Church, sending all nine of his children to Saint Bernard School, eventually sending six children to Notre Dame and St. Mary's College, or promoting prayer in daily life, faith was his guiding light. 

Pat told family and friends, "You need to know where you came from and remember it," and he surely did. Born on June 5, 1930 in Connellsville, PA, he was the son of Joseph and Jane King (Duncan). He had three brothers and a sister: Joseph "Buddy", John "Jack," Edward "Leo," and Catherine "Kate." The family lived over the years both in Connellsville and Uniontown, and he was proud of his roots in friendly, hard working, small-town Western Pennsylvania. A standout student and multi-sport athlete in football, track, and basketball, he graduated from Connellsville High school in 1948. He attended Westminster College on a basketball scholarship and studied business administration, and he became the first person in his family to earn a college degree. At Westminster, he starred on the basketball team for three seasons, and was an Honorable Mention All-American in Colliers Magazine in 1951. Upon graduation in 1952, he was the 2nd leading all-time scorer in Westminster basketball history, and he later was inducted into the Westminster Hall of Fame.

He served for two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and then began a brief business career in the management training program at Goodyear Tire Company.  The absolute best part of his business career was that during this time, he met Claire, the love of his life, and after a lively courtship, they married in 1958 in Akron, OH. Pat soon realized he wanted to be an educator, and he taught and coached basketball in Akron for 10 years at Jennings Junior High and Akron Central High School. He eventually obtained a Masters in Education from Kent State University while teaching during the day and studying at night; by this time, Claire and he had five young children at home as well. His children to this day do not quite know how they pulled this off. Seeking to be closer to family and relatives, Pat and Claire settled in Mount Lebanon, PA in 1968, and for the next 21 years, he taught history and social studies and served as Activities Director and Athletic Director at South High School in Pittsburgh, PA. During his career, he taught and guided thousands of young people, and promoted the value of curiosity, learning, and self-development to all. Along the way, the family grew to include nine children, and eventually with his and Claire's support and spunk, all nine graduated from college.

In addition to faith, family, and education, Pat loved all things sports. After playing and coaching in his younger years, he supported sports throughout the Pittsburgh area. He especially relished the Steelers, the Pirates, and watching many of his children and grandchildren play for the Mount Lebanon Blue Devils and other teams. Beyond sports, he treasured music and his Irish American heritage. He shared this regularly around the home or any piano, and for 15 years after retirement, he played with the Pittsburgh Banjo Club. He dearly enjoyed singing and sharing a good joke or a laugh, and he is fondly remembered for singing tunes such as “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” and the “Too- Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral” lullaby and many others to cherished family and friends. Many will attest that Pat had a gift as a storyteller and raconteur. Whether telling tales of Irish history or long ago family members, researching the family tree, or singing, Pat left a deep legacy of Irish-American pride, music, and song. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Pittsburgh Irish Centre for many years. He also helped to create and was an officer of the Pittsburgh Curragh Club, and he composed the original song, "St. Brendan The Navigator," which will be remembered and sung here on Earth and by him in Heaven.

He is survived by Claire, his loving wife, and by brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Michael Conrad, Bernice Craig, Mary Essary (Rock), and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his brothers and sister, and by brothers-in-law, Ray Goron, Greg Conrad, and Jack Craig. One of Pat's favorite sayings to demonstrate how children enriched his and family life was: "Children are like gold, the more you have the richer you are!"  Pat was the ever loving and present father of, and is survived by, his nine children: Joseph Francis (Janet), John Patrick (Rachel), Maureen Ann White (Tim), Kathleen Ellen Claire (Mark), Colleen Marie Kuhn (Nick), Patrick Michael (Elizabeth), Mary Brigid Ehland (Matt), Kevin Gerard (Jodi), and Meghan Jane Johnson. He was the loving and fun "Pap Pap" for 25 grandchildren:  Stellan, Sean, Daniel, Maggie, Kevin, Matthew, Christine, Patrick Joseph, William, Joseph, Patrick James, Anne, Sadie, Elizabeth, Josef, Andrew, Claire Marie, James, Katie, Chris, Dylan, Connor, Langley, Bridget, and Erin.  And he was the fortunate Great Grandfather of 18 dear ones with two more on the way!  Pat was truly blessed with love, family, and life. 

We love you, Dad. We love you, Pat. We love you, Pap-Pap. You're #1!  "Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Pat's friends and family were welcomed on Wednesday, November 26, at Laughlin Cremation and Funeral Tributes, 222 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA.  A Mass of Christian Burial was later celebrated on Friday, November 28 1:00 pm at Saint Bernard Church, 401 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon, PA. In place of flowers or other remembrances, the family gratefully suggests memorial gifts to Masses for the repose of Pat King's soul or charitable contributions to People Concerned for the Unborn Child, or St. Michael the Archangel Angel Fund, or Mount Lebanon Community Foundation-King Family Fund. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patrick Henry King, please visit our floral store.