Obituary of Dr. Edith W King

Dr. Edith W. King passed away after a brief illness on June 19, 2024, at the age of 93.  She died at her beloved Denver home of over 58 years holding the hands of her children in the comfort of her bedroom listening to her favorite classical music with flowers from her garden beside her.  Dr. King was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 16, 1930.  She is survived by her daughter, Melissa L. King and son, Matthew L. King.  She is predeceased by her husband of over 50 years, Marvin M. King, and her parents, Dr. Otto A. Weiss and Fay Eskay Weiss and her brother, Dr. Joseph J. Weiss.

Dr. King’s alma mater was the University of Michigan.  She was an avid Wolverines football fan her whole adult life.  She moved to Denver, Colorado in 1966 with her family when her husband was relocated by his employer, Samsonite Corporation.  Soon after she joined the faculty of the University of Denver and enjoyed a 44-year career as a professor teaching in the college of education, retiring at the age of 80.  Dr. King was a world traveler, often organizing travel around international conferences and her academic pursuits.  She also took great pleasure in her many years as a second homeowner in the Vail Valley, most recently in Eagle Ranch.

During a career spanning five decades Dr. King authored numerous books, articles, papers, reports and reviews on topics and issues covering the teaching of sociology of education, Islamophobia, female genital mutilation, educating in times of terrorism, understanding undocumented immigrant children, ethnicity, class and gender in education, education for multiethnic populations, qualitative research methods, international education and human rights.  Dr. King is the author of numerous textbooks including: Twentieth Century Social Thought (1995) with R. P. Cuzzort; Looking Into the Lives of Children...A Worldwide View (1999); Social Thought Into the 21st Century 6th Edition (2002); Encounters with Social Thought (2012); Teaching in an Era of Terrorism Fourth Edition (2013); Social Thought on Education Second Edition (2014); Educating Students in Times of Terrorism (2016); and Encounters With Sociology (2017).  ResearchGate lists 33 of her publications including 15 textbooks. Dr. King was a tireless advocate for world peace and for women’s rights from the beginning of the movement.

Many know and identify Dr. King with the term “Worldmindedness.” She signed all her correspondence “Worldmindedly” and when asked the origins of this unique term, she explained that it was coined after Eleanor Roosevelt observed her teaching at an elementary school classroom in Detroit, Michigan and referred to her as a “worldminded” woman. It was used to identify her unique seminars, federally-funded institutes and course offerings during the 1960’s through the 1990’s.  The term “Worldmindedness” reflected her philosophy and teaching of global understanding, education for peacebuilding, and women’s rights.  In years past she organized travel seminars for graduate students, teachers and administrators to study education in international settings in Britain, Singapore, Mainland China, and Canada.  For a number of years she conducted summer seminars in Vail, Colorado for U.S. and international educators on current topics in international education and research methods.

Dr. King was an inspiring mother to her two children.  She always encouraged them to pursue their goals and assisted them in every way possible.  Dr. King undoubtedly will be remembered most as a dedicated teacher, colleague, mentor and friend to countless doctoral and masters students and alumni, many of whom have gone on to serve as faculty in universities and colleges throughout the U.S. and the world, including in Taiwan, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Hers was a long and beautiful life well lived.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery adjacent to her husband, who was an Army Air Corp Officer and World War II veteran.  There will be a graveside service on a date to be determined.  A celebration of life is being planned.