John W. King, Sr., 89, of Kingsport, passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. He was born May 3, 1931 in Ashville, NC to the late Maude and Fred King. Graduate of Sullivan High School in 1951 and played baseball in El Dorado, AR and Dothan, AL in 1952. During his baseball career, John was known as the “curve ball wizard”. He served in the US Army, achieving the rank of Sargent, working at the Pentagon, and selected to the Army Softball Team in Washington, D.C and played in the All Army Softball Tournament in Ft. Dix, NJ in 1955. After the military, John drove for Mason-Dixon Truck Lines and Consolidated Freight Lines and umpired high school and Appalachian League games.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred King and Maude Agee; brother, James King; and sisters, Joella Begley and Frances Lawson.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Johnny King (Tammy) and Cheryl Cleary (Dennis); grandchildren, Todd (Tara), Trevis, Matthew, John Paul, and Annie; great-grandchildren, Bailey, Nik, and Khloe; and great-great-granddaughter, Braylynn.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2020 at 2:00pm at East Lawn Funeral Home with Pastor Will Shewey officiating.
John will be laid to rest at 3:00pm Thursday at East Lawn Memorial Park in the Garden of Good Shepherd. Military Rites conveyed by the American Legion Post 3/265.
Online condolences may be made to the King family at www.eastlawnkingsport.com. East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park has the honor of serving the King family.
