William "Bill" R. King, 84, died at 8 a.m. Dec. 27, 2008, at Grace Village Health Care Facility, Winona Lake. He was in failing health with lung issues for several years.
He was born Dec. 7, 1924, in Frankfort, the first of nine children of David W. and Myrtle E. Cornelison King. On July 28, 1945, he married Dorothy L. Cole, who died March 10, 1973, after 23 years of marriage. On Sept. 29, 1973, he married Carolyn D. Blosser Wertenberger, whom he missed dearly. She died Dec. 28, 2003, after 29 years of marriage.
He was an accountant for Sunschine Farms during the late '50s; Ramsey, King, McBride & Horn Accounting in the '60s; and Tyler Machinery until his retirement. During his retirement he worked part time at Maple Leaf Farms. He graduated from Kirklin High School and attended Indiana University, Bloomington. His passions were flying, fishing, hunting, playing golf, dancing, bird watching and especially his children of all generations and was proud of all of them. He tried to spend all of his extra time outdoors taking in everything nature had to offer - whether in the sky, on the water or on the ground - it was all God's wondrous beauty to him. He loved being with people, never having met a stranger. He moved to Warsaw from Frankfort in 1956. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard aboard the USS Machais as Quartermaster 3rd Class from March 1943 until his honorable discharge in May 1946. He never regretted serving his country. The crew of the Machais continues to meet every year and keeps in close contact. They have always held a special place in his heart.
Surviving are two daughters, Margo (and spouse Larry) Christner, Winona Lake, and Lana (and spouse Larry) VerHage, Warsaw; four grandchildren: Brian (and spouse Lindsey) Christner, Antioch, Ill.; Rachel (and spouse Bob) Grasmick and Aaron (and spouse Heidi) Christner, all of Warsaw; and Scott (and spouse Amy) Shepherd, Marion; and eight great-grandchildren: Alexander, Jackson, Stephen, Emma and Hailey Christner and Gavin, Gracie and Gabrielle Grasmick; three sisters: Helen Pruitt, South Carolina; LouAnn DeLong, Washington; Carolyn Schulz, Fla.; and three brothers: Lemoine F. King, Indianapolis; Wayne David King, Florida; and Danny A. King, Fort Wayne; and three sisters-in-Law: Joan King, Indianapolis; Dorothy King, Florida; and Phyllis (and spouse Bob) Teel, Monticello. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert and Bernard King.
A private service was today at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, with the Rev. EJ Underwood of Warsaw Community Church officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, with military honors by members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 49 and American Legion Post 286.
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Memorials to Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196.
