King SIMS

1936 - 2018

SIMS, W. King "Sky King" Never content to be grounded for too long, W. King "Sky King" Sims of St. Simons Island, Georgia made his final departure on March 24, 2018. Born in Atlanta on September 22, 1936, King graduated from North Fulton High School then went on to receive his Bachelor of Physical Science from Georgia Tech, where he served as President of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. King served in the United States Navy as Chief Engineer on the USS Wagner (DE-539) alongside his loyal crewmates, the proud and self-proclaimed "King's Men." He was Chairman and President of Larkin Coils, Inc. and The Larkin Group. He also served on the boards of The Boys Club of Atlanta, Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Speech School, and The Galloway School. King was a Trustee of the Warren Foundation, member of Young Presidents Organization, and Commodore of the Lake Lanier Sailing Club. A sailor of impeccable stubbornness, he swept all the races in each of the three LLSC regattas, earning what is now the Sims family motto: "Valiant in Defeat, Insufferable in Victory." King loved his family, his dogs, fast machines, and coffee ice cream. Never content to slow down for anything, including retirement, King became a professional pilot, sold and installed avionics, and restored antique planes, before eventually settling down for an easy life of farming, stabling, and tractor maintenance. King is greeted in heaven by his father Oscar Martin (Jack) Sims and mother Helen King Sims, along with a furry pack of excited Shepherds and Corgis. He is survived by his beloved wife Joanne Sims, daughter Holly Sims, son Wade K Sims, Jr., sister Gail Furniss (Peter Furniss), grandsons Wade K Sims III, Bill Bedinger, and Jack Bedinger, nephew Michael Furniss, and niece Melissa Furniss. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, April 3rd at Arlington Memorial Park 201 Mount Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, Georgia. Reception immediately following at the Piedmont Driving Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia or Hospice of the Golden Isles.