William Alexander King Jr., age 85, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born May 7, 1938 in Memphis, Tennessee, to William A. King, Sr. and Adelaide McLean Crain. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1983. He was a helicopter pilot and received 29 medals for his service and served 2 tours in Vietnam.
He enjoyed playing and watching golf, and was an avid Denver Bronco fan. He had a Master's Degree in Business. He later worked for Jeppesen/Sanderson leading a team in developing an electronic navigation device still used by pilots today.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ann Marie O'Mara King; sons, William A. King III (Donna), Mark Andrew King, Patrick Joseph King (Amy), and Gerald Robert King (Angela); daughter, Theresa King Miron; six grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandson.
The family will receive friends at visitation on Tuesday, March 5 from 9:00 AM until the funeral mass at 10:00 AM, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 8455 Germantown Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, Memphis, TN. The family requests memorials be directed to The Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.