Mary Kathryn Walker King

Mary Kathryn Walker (Kay) King, a local artist and Air Force wife, passed away December 16, 2005. Kay was born to John G. and Frances Walker in Gillespie County, Texas on May 10, 1920. In 1936 she moved with her large, close family to San Antonio, where she attended Edison High School and San Antonio College. She later attended the University of Tennessee. Kay married Don W. King on March 12, 1940. Don was in the Army Air Corps. Kay, determined to keep the family together, accompanied her husband on his military assignments, whenever possible. Among those assignments, were Japan, in 1955, where Kay climbed Mt. Fuji, and Hawaii, in 1957. In the summer of 1965, Kay and daughter, Debra, joined Don, who was on assignment in England, for a tour of free Europe and the Holy Land. Although Don did not retire from the Air Force until 1970, the Kings took advantage of an assignment to Kelly AFB, and built their permanent home in Castle Hills in 1960, where they tried to live as normal a life as possible, in spite of Don's long trips as an aircraft commander. Kay never wanted to move again, except to her heavenly home. Kay's heart and home were always open to family and friend. She also enjoyed entertaining at the Kings' lake front house on Inks Lake, which they owned for thirty years. After Don's retirement from his second career as a math teacher, the Kings enjoyed traveling and taking cruises, either as a couple or with grandchildren. Kay became a Christian at age 14, belong to numerous Baptist churches over the years and worked with children's ministries. She joined Covenant Presbyterian Church in 1998. Kay was always very compassionate and mission minded. She was a volunteer for "Meals on Wheels" and had several favorite charities, which included Coral Ridge Ministries, Billy Graham, Campus Crusade for Christ, Paralyzed Veterans and the Salvation Army. At one time, Kay was an active Republican and supported several conservative organizations. Mrs. King was very creative, and a talented oil painter. To her regret she never was able to devote as much time to her art as she would have liked. Nevertheless, hundreds of her paintings grace homes and offices throughout the United States and abroad. She was often commissioned to do special paintings. In 1992 she was commissioned to do a painting for display in the State Department in Washington, D.C. Mrs. King was a member of the River Art Group, San Antonio Art League and the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts. Mrs. King is survived by her husband of sixty-five years, Don; a son, Don W. King, Jr. of Arlington, Texas; her daughter, Debra Kay King, of San Antonio; brothers John Walker, Dr. Isaac Walker, Herbert Walker, and Jack Walker; sister Nora Sutton; grandchildren Tammy Overmier, Cody Sample and Nathan King. She was pre-deceased by her parents and sister Dorothy Walker Rotan. Funeral service is at 1:00 P.M., December 20, 2005, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 211 Roleto Dr., San Antonio, followed by private interment at Sunset Memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution to one of Kay's favorite charities or one of your own. Sunset Funeral Home.