The City of Penticton lowered its Canadian flag to half-staff in honour of former Penticton MP Fred King.

King died in hospice Tuesday morning at the age of 93.

Mayor Andrew Jakubeit shared some words to commemorate the former MP, calling King "someone who commanded a fair bit of respect."

"He was well liked because he had such a bubbly personality," he said. "He was always a bit of a character, a bit of humour."

King served as MP for the federal Progressive Conservative Party from 1979 until 1988, when he retired from politics following a defeat by New Democrat Jack Whittaker.

However, King remained an active member of the community, working as director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation and working to bring more recognition to local veterans.

Prior to politics, King had various careers, including fruit farming and postmaster.

Prior to that, he had served in Burma during the Second World War for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The flag will be flown at half-mast until his memorial service.

Photo: Dustin Godfrey