John Everett King, Jr. was born on December 25, 1947 to parents John Everett King and Alta Neoma King (Fielden). He resided in Springfield Missouri from birth until October of 1983. He went to Central High School and college at Southwest Missouri State. He then served in the Army where he was stationed in South Korea on the demilitarized zone. He discovered much later in life that AGENT ORANGE was used there as well as Vietnam.
John Married Judith Ann Andrews on June 29, 1974. They were blessed with two children. Jennifer Lynne (Erickson) March 8, 1980 and John Everett III July 14, 1985. Moving for various employment opportunities, the family lived in Woodstock, NY, Dayton, OH, St. Louis, MO, and in 1998 to Wichita, KS where they have been ever since.
John received a BS in Industrial Engineering and work with small horsepower motors for 45+ years. At one point he worked for a company which put him in China for weeks at a time. It was an amazing opportunity and Judi was able to join him on several occasions.
From childhood he enjoyed Collecting coins and trains and in adulthood added metal detecting to his hobbies. He was always a kid at heart and had a wonderful sense of humor and a fair amount of orneriness.
He adored his family. When the children were small he always had time to play with them and as they grew he found they loved to be included in his hobbies. They vacationed in places like San Diego and Yellowstone. His grandchildren were a source of pride and joy.
There wasn’t a person he would meet that he couldn’t make into a friend. Everyone he worked with both respected and liked him. His smile and sense of humor made him easy to like.
One of the most important things in his life was that he was a Christian. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young teen and is now in the hands of Jesus Praising HIM and enjoying his new body that has no ills. He passed away Tuesday, February 7 after a brave and valliant struggle with ALS a presumptive disease from Agent Orange.
John is preceded in death by his Mother Alta King and his father John Everett King, Sr. He is survived by his wife Judi (Andrews) King, his daughter Jennifer (Darrin) Erickson, son John Everett (Whitney) King III, 4 grandchildren Tyler Erickson, Abbie Erickson, Evelyn King, Charlotte King and many cousins and his three furry companions; Captain, Cody and Emma.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Association – Mid West Chapter, Wichita, Kansas.
Visitation 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, February 14, at Baker Funeral Home Valley Center.
Graveside 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 15, at Kansas Veteran's Cemetery, 1208 N. College St., Winfield, Ks.