Alfred Eugene King

Alfred Eugene (Al) King, age 94, peacefully departed from us on Saturday, September 14, 2024 to live with his Heavenly Father. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, September 28, at 10:00am at Calvary Lutheran Church in San Angelo, TX. Burial with full Military Honors will follow at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Al may be visited at Johnson’s Funeral Home during normal business hours.

Al was born on April 2, 1930 in Weslaco, Texas to John and Della King. He married the love of his life, Rosalee Matthews McLaughlin, on November 16, 1974 at the home of her parents in the Providence Community. They decided to make their home in San Angelo, Texas which was about halfway between her family in Providence Community and his family in Kingsville, Texas. They just celebrated fifty years of love in November 2023, in San Angelo, Texas with many family members and special friends present.

Al grew up living and working on his grandfather’s farm with his father John and his two uncles Froen and Gregory in the Kingsville, Texas area. He attended schools in Kingsville until 1947 when he decided he wanted to see the world. He enlisted at the age of 17 in the Army Air Corps at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. After basic training and aircraft mechanical technical training, Al transitioned from an Aircraft Mechanic to a Flying Crewchief, and later as an Aircraft Flight Engineer. In his first seven years while stationed at Carswell AFB, Ft Worth, Texas, he flew to 48 states, Newfoundland, Iceland, Greenland, England, Germany, North Africa (Tripoli), Casablanca, Portugal, Azores, and Bermuda.

In 1954 Al was sent to Korea and then to Japan. While in Japan he was selected for a special duty assignment to serve as a Flight Engineer on the VIP C-54 Aircraft. This aircraft flew various Air Force Generals to many locations. While performing this special duty he flew to Korea, China, Philippines, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Wake Island, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and Vietnam. During the first 16 years of service, he accumulated over 5000 hours of flying time in numerous types of aircraft and flying into hazardous areas and combat zones. Al felt he had accomplished his goal of seeing the world and returned to the states to Plattsburg AFB, NY where he decided to end his flying career and become a Minuteman Ballistic Missile Specialist and served the next seven years of service as a Minuteman Missile Maintenance Manager. Al faithfully served his country for 26 years and retired from the United States Air Force in 1974.

After Al’s retirement from the USAF, he worked for six years at Mathis Field as an FAA A&P Aircraft Mechanic for Longenette/Ranger Flying Service. In 1980 he transitioned to Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT) doing mechanical work. While at TDOT he earned the position of Preventative Administrator and then was promoted to District Equipment Preventative Administrator which covered a vast area from Colorado City to Del Rio and as far west as Big Lake. He retired from TDOT in December 1991.

When Al and Rosalee moved to San Angelo he started attending the Calvary Lutheran Church with Rosalee. Al was raised in the Catholic Faith. After attending many Bible Study Classes Al decided he wanted to become a Lutheran and attended Adult Confirmation with Pastor Rose. Al became a very devoted member of the church and served as a church Councilman for four different terms. He enjoyed maintaining the church grounds and tinkering with things that needed repaired in the church. He and Rosalee continued to serve as church greeters and ushers for many years. Al loved attending Bible Studies that Pastor Kurt taught. Through many special friends in the Church and the Community Al enjoyed Sunday lunches after church with friends, reading a good book about the military or anything by John Grisham, a good ole western movie especially if John Wayne was in it, bowling leagues in the community, and playing various domino games, Farkel, and Sequence with their best friends.

Preceding Al in death were his parents John & Della King; his brothers Larry King & William King; his three sisters, Margie Jolliffee, Joan Jones, and Irene Marler; brother-in-law’s Jimmy Jones & Arvie Marler; stepdaughter-in-law Vonda McLaughlin; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife Rosalee; sister-in-law Helen King; stepsons Danny McLaughlin & Donnie McLaughlin; stepdaughter Teresa Carpenter and her husband Tom Carpenter, granddaughter Kasey Carpenter, grandsons Jeremy & Brandon Carpenter; and many nieces & nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials in Al’s honor be donated to Calvary Lutheran Church, 3231 College Hills Blvd, San Angelo, Texas 76904