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Barry L. King

1931 - 2020

Barry L. King obituary, 1931-2020, Birmingham, MI

BORN

1931

DIED

2020

Barry King Obituary

Barry L. King

Birmingham - Barry L. King, 89, of Birmingham, died peacefully at home on November 19, 2020. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand on March 11, 1931, to Lowell Lumley and Dorothy Barry King. He graduated from Flint Central High School in 1949 and then attended Marquette University on a Navy ROTC scholarship. Following his graduation in 1953, he served three years as a Naval officer. Barry participated in Operation Passage to Freedom, a Navy operation assisting in the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees after the 1954 division of Vietnam.

Barry graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1958. He worked for a brief time as a loan officer in Coronado, CA, then joined the Detroit law firm of Dyer, Meek, Ruesegger and Bullard. Later he joined and retired from the law firm eventually known as Giamarco, Mullins and Horton. He loved practicing law.

Barry also loved reading, bridge and being with friends. He especially enjoyed and looked forward to his monthly lunches at the Roma Cafe with attorney friends that have met together for over forty years.

He is survived by his second wonderful wife, Janice Moore King, and was the proud father of three surviving children, Catherine, Christopher (Patricia), and Mark, and two grandchildren, Ben and Sarah. He is also survived by a sister, Kenda Hudson (Ted and their children Brian, Scott, Nicole and Lowell). Barry's first wife, Marion Kerr King, died in 2004. Marion's family in Nova Scotia was geographically far away but always close to our hearts.

Barry and Marion's fourth child, Timothy, was kidnapped and murdered in 1977. Tim was abducted in Oakland County and his body found in Wayne County six days later. His murder, which law enforcement agencies attributed to the "Oakland County child killer," was never solved. Barry was grateful for and impressed by the hard work done on Tim's case beginning in 2005 by Det./Sgt. Cory Williams, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy and Assistant Prosecutor Rob Moran.

Burial will be at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan, to join his first wonderful wife, Marion, and Timothy. A celebration of his life will be held after the pandemic when it is safe to gather. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tim King Trust, created by Marion and Barry in 1977 to assist abused and neglected children, in care of A. J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors, 2600 Crooks Road, Troy, MI, 48084. Contributions may also be made to CARE House of Oakland County, www.carehouse.org.

www.AJDesmond.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Detroit Free Press & The Detroit News from Nov. 21 to Nov. 22, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Barry King

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Anonymous

February 16, 2021

I have been aware of Mr. King and I have known and followed his story for most of my life, as I am the same age as his children and I grew up in the area. Mr. King led an admirable and useful life. He always impressed me with his grace and poise. I learned of his passing just today, months after the fact, and I am very saddened. I hope he is now at peace and that he now knows all that he seeked to know. I hope that he is reunited with his family. Peace and comfort to his family. Please know that many people cared about your father from afar. I wish you well.

Marcia Singler

January 17, 2021

Such a dignified, accomplished and outstanding man. Mr. King’s search for the truth was met with tremendous challenges yet he conducted himself with poise and grace. Such a loss. Our world needs more men like Mr. King.

Gary Runevitch

November 24, 2020

He was a great man and the southeastern Michigan region owes a huge debt to Barry and the King family for all the work he did to stop child abductions in our community.

Jeff & Rosemary (Righter) Hall

November 24, 2020

Sending our deepest sympathy as you grieve the loss of your Dad. Growing up just 3 doors down then moving back to the neighborhood to raise our own family, I always admired Barry and his relentless pursuit for justice. In recent years as he walked our neighborhood, his cheerful ‘Hi Rosie!’ always made me happy. Our family will miss him. Grace, peace and love to all of the Kings.

Cathy Pullum

November 24, 2020

I never knew Barry King or his family. I have followed the horror this family went through. I lived in Birmingham for 27 years. I hope he is at peace now.
I am sure there was a joyous reunion with his son and of course Tim's mother. They all certainly earned their wings.

Gwen Clark

November 23, 2020

Barry was a kind and loving brother-in-law.We had some fun trips to Michigan visiting Marion and Barry,Cathy, Chris, Mark and Tim, when the kids were young.On one occasion they had a cottage rented for us ,next to theirs,at Lake Michigan.Tim wanted us to move to Michigan.Rest in Peace Barry.

Andy Berthiaume

November 23, 2020

Chris and Cathy - my sincere condolences. I met your Dad three years ago and I knew right away what a special man he was. Please know that there are many of us out there continuing the search for answers for Tim and continuing what your Dad was working towards. Thinking of you all today.

Kristin Sanders -Fiorita

November 23, 2020

Condolences to the family. He attended my wedding as a close family friend. Fond memories of him telling my husband that he better be good to me! ❤

Scott Beaudrie

November 22, 2020

Mr. King was the Attorney for Townsend Dodge’s (Red) Company-Dodge & Dodge Machine Shop in SouthRockwood, Michigan. I remember my Dad telling the story of how upset Mr. Kings Wife was after Tims Death. It caused Red and his Wife to curtail their dinner outings with Mr. and Mrs. King.

Scott Sanders

November 22, 2020

Barry and Marian were as my parents used to say “our favorite friends”. Rest In Peace kind sir....it is a privilege to know you. Your dignified determination in the face of adversity was always an inspiration.

The Sanders Family

Paul Pulte

November 22, 2020

Rest in Peace, Mr King. Now you can hug Tim, forever.

Deric Righter

November 22, 2020

Mark, Chris and Cathy, so sorry to hear of Barry's passing. I have many fond memories of baseball in Birmingham, his walks through the neighbor and his efforts to find the truth behind Tim's murder. My prayers are with all of you.

Deric Righter

November 22, 2020

Mark, Chris and Cathy, so sorry to hear of Barry's passing. Many fond memories of baseball in Birmingham, his walks through the neighbor and his efforts to solve Tim's murder. He will be missed.

Melissa Vee

November 21, 2020

Condolences to Barry's wife, three children, grandchildren and extended family and friends. I am a neighbor, and would waive hello but never wanted to intrude on this family's privacy. I am close to his children's age and while I did not grow up with his children, I grew up with awareness of Timothy's story. What I was always impressed with is the grace with which Barry and the family outwardly seemed to handle living with the challenge of the unknown. Barry seemed to be a family man, smart and strong. I was happy and proud to be his neighbor. I will miss him. He would not even know me, but I feel like our little town has just lost a bit of what made it good. Blessings to his family.

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