William Porter King, Jr.

Obituary for Bill King

William Porter King, Jr. went to his heavenly Father on October 31st 2013. He was born in Snyder on June 22, 1920 to William Porter King and Grace Moore King.

Mr. King lived in Snyder, Texas until in 2009 illness required him to live closer to his family. He moved to Harker Heights, TX. Mr. King attended Texas Tech for a year and was a member of the National Guard when World War II started.

Mr. King rose to the rank of Sergeant in Signal Corps. He saw action during four World War II Campaigns. He served in North Africa, Sicily, France, and Germany. He received the American Defense Medal and the EAME & good Conduct Medals. After World War II Mr. King's Father asked him to come home to Snyder and work in the family business, King and Brown. He remained working at the store because he ""liked being his own boss"" and he enjoyed talking with all the old timers who would come by to see his father.

As a child he was involved in sports and liked to do both yard and garden work. Bill was active in the Boy Scouts of America. In 1937, Life Magazine published a picture of Bill in his Boy Scout Uniform trading Horned toads on the steps of the National Capitol. When he ran out of toads to trade, Bill's Father collected more horned toads so he could send them to Bill. Mr. King's home on 3008 Ave U in Snyder was pictured in the book Stone-Tree Houses of Texas. Bill was very fond of the stone fish pond at his home. Bill and his Father gathered the petrified rock to construct the pond and rocked the house. Mr. King was a member of the Grand Lodge of Texas chapter #706 for fifty years.

In 1936 he received the Boy Scouts highest honor the Eagle Scout badge while attending the national Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington D. C.. Bill's father, Porter King was the first Scout Master in Snyder and led Bill's troop. Mr. King married Vondell Jones Ewing in 1957 in Lovington, New Mexico. A historic snowstorm blanketed most of New Mexico and Texas and they were stranded. They managed to get a marriage license before the roads were closed and were married in Lovington.

Mr. King was preceded in death by one daughter, Bonnie Mae King, his parents, William Porter King, Sr. and Grace Moore King. His sister, Kay Sharp Sissenstein, and his wife Vondell Jones King.

After moving to Indian Oaks living Center in Harker Heights, Mr. King developed many new friends and was elected Valentines King by the residents in 2011.

Surviving Mr. King are his children Beth & Walter Zanardi of Cape Coral. Florida Lorndell & Larry Tomlin of, Frankston, TX Emmadell & Wallace Vernon of Killeen, TX. Leta & Joe Parker of Celina, TX. Mr. King had eight grandchildren, Victor Gene Valentine of Ft. Myers, Mike Valentine of Fluvanna, Marc Valentine of Abilene, Bill Vernon of Moody, Kathi Barksdale of Melvin, Patricia Cummins of Killeen, Kevyn Daykin of Celina and Laura Lyons of Sewell, N.J.
He has 21 Great-grandchildren: Kyle, Sydne, Miller, Miles, Merick, Zacary and Lauren Valentine, Ace and Sarah Vernon, Victoria, Lexi, Cole and Dawson Barksdale, Elijah and Isaac Cummins, Koal and Garret Daykin and Connor, Kelsey, Cameron Lyons and Claudio Ranieri.

Pall bearers are David Barksdale, Gene Cummins, Bill Vernon, Vick Valentine, Mike Valentine, and Marc Valentine.

Services will be held at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 10AM. Interment will follow in the Snyder Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2013 from 6PM to 7PM.

Memorials can be made to: First Baptist Church, 3310 South WS Young Drive, Killeen, TX 76542