Richard Lee King

King, Richard L."Dick"' 82 - went home to his Lord and to be reunited with our Grammy, his beloved Jesslyn, on Monday, November 25th, 2013, with his family at his side. Richard Lee King was born on May 22,1931 in Anderson, Indiana to Raymond and Florence King.  As a youngster, "Dicky Boy" as he was affectionately called, moved with his family to the Bradenton-Palmetto, Florida area .  It was there that he met the love of his life, Jesslyn. They were married in Palmetto on February 25th, 1951 in a union that lasted over sixty years, until Mrs King's passing in August of 2011. His Jess would bless him with a family of three sons and one daughter. As an Army veteran, his service during the Korean War included time in the Arctic, building strategic runways and roads, on the North Pole ice. Dick King began his professional career as a county road engineer in Alachua County, Florida.  He soon accepted an opportunity for a promotion as the County Road Engineer in Nassau County, where he worked until his health forced him to retire.   A deeply religious man of enormous Christian faith, Mr. King was an ordained Deacon who spent time as a missionary, sharing his love of the Lord in Korea. He also proudly married his two sons and daughter. Dick and Jesslyn spent their retirement years in Waynesville,NC going to auctions to furnish their antique store, and, finally, back to Jacksonville, to be close to their family. There they proudly attended the football games, baseball games, soccer games, and volleyball matches, of their grandchildren, and enjoyed many a Friday night dinner, with his family. Our Peepaw was larger than life, full of fun, and adored and loved by everyone, including the nursing staff at Southlake Nursing Home, who remarked, that he was "special". He was "Honey" to his Jesslyn, Dad to his kids, Mr. King to the many youth he served at First Baptist Church of Fernandina, and Santa Claus at Christmas, his favorite time of the year. He was our "Peep", and he taught us all a lot about life. We love you Peep, and you will be missed. Dick King was preceded in death by his infant son, Ricky, his beloved wife, Jesslyn, and his brothers, Jack and Bill.  He is survived by his sons Ron (Susi) and Gary (Barbara), daughter, Angelyn "Kay Kay" (Dave), twelve grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Visitation services will be Monday, December 2, 2013  from 6 - 8 pm in Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin with military burial services on Tuesday December 3rd at 10:30 a.m. in Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville FL 32218.