William King

Sunset & evening Star And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I set out to sea. William "Bill" Perry King died Nov. 26, 2006, in L.V. Bill was born in Goldendale, WA., Dec. 10, 1926, to Philip William & Nellie Isabelle (Rhoads) King. After their death at the age of 17, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII to help support 4 younger siblings. He went to Farragut, ID., & was assigned to the Floyds Bay Seaplane Tender as gunners mate. At that young age he was in the battle at Guam & Okinawa; & the Floyds Bay controlled the seadromes in the South Pacific until the end of the war. He was in a bay near Japan ready to help in the invasion when the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan thus ending the war. When he returned home in uniform, he caught the eye of Marjorie "Marge" Scott. They attended church functions together until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1949. He was in Basic Training at Fort Riley, Kan., & was in the 84th Engineers. They were sent with the 1st groups to Korea in June/July 1950. Bill was a true patriot and served with honor. The 84th Engineers were awarded the Presidential Citation for service in Korea. On June 25, 2000, each man received ribbons & a letter of appreciation from the Korean government, signed by the president of the (Free) Republic of Korea, as a thank you, on the 50 yr anniversary of the Korean War. Bill came home Sept. 28, 1951, & married his beloved Marge Oct. 11. His orders were then to Camp Desert Rock, where he walked through 2 atomic tests, "Snapper" & "Tumbler". Besides his loving & loved wife, of 55 years, he is survived by 4 precious children, Rebecca (Joe) Kooyman and Clayton King of L.V., Arthur (Pam) King of Hornlake, MS., and Philip (Maurine) King of Washington State. When Alzheimers started making him forgetful, his fear was he would forget his "babies". His daughter, Deborah Davis, predeceased him in death in June 2006. He lived for his wife & children, & all are grieving for Dad. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Misti Kooyman & Jason Ashton of L.V., Kerri King of Loon Lake, WA., Kellie (Daniel) Halliday of Paulden, AZ., Kristin (Robert) Smith, Amy, Regina, Rochelle Davis, all of Jacksonville, FL., and Jessica King of Lansing, MI. He was predeceased by grandchildren, Suzanne Davis & William Roy King, (whom Bill & Marge raised until his early death). Bill was also the loving great-grandpa of 9, Isabella, Sydney Halliday, Capri & Perry William Smith, Regan Mietsch, & Ashley, Tiara, & Andrea Wyrick. He is survived by a loving extended family: sister, Charlottie Wright of Olympia, WA; brother, Ed (Shirley) King, of Metaline, WA.; & close cousins, Dale & Mary King of Alaska. He is also survived by many other siblings, cousins, nephews, nieces, & by his many friends. Bill drove for Greyhound Bus Lines for 28 years & had safe driving awards for 27 of those years. He went to retired Greyhound monthly coffees for the last time Nov. 1. After his family & his service in 2 wars he was most proud of his membership in the Masonic Lodge #32 for over 35 years; his many years of working with Masonic youth; & his lifetime membership in the VFW Post #1753. Just before his final illness he gave to his VFW Post, for use in parades & display, the 1943 WWarII Army Jeep that he bought in 1969. He was looking forward to the 1st ride in that Jeep. Bill enjoyed fishing, hiking, four wheeling, & stamp & coin collecting, & square & round dancing. He belonged to the Vegas Villagers (collectors of Dept 56 buildings). He & his wife were genealogists & traveled across the U.S. & Western Europe for 40 yrs in search of family records. They found 100`s of relatives &, probably, made 1000`s of new friends. He was a loving, gentle man, who Will Be Missed Forever. Graveside services at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 7251 W. Lone Mountain Road, by the U.S. Military Honor Guard and Masonic Lodge #32. No flowers, please.