J.W. King, Jr.

J.W. King, Jr. passed away on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020 at the age of 97½. He was born in El Dorado, Arkansas to Louise Morris King and Jewel Warren King on October 14, 1922. He grew up in El Dorado then attended Jefferson Military College in Natchez, Mississippi. He entered Park Air College near St. Louis in 1942 as an aviation cadet. He was commissioned at the Army flying school in Pampa, Texas in 1943. From there he was sent to Louisiana for bomber training. For the next few years he was a B-26 bomber pilot in WW II and flew nearly 80 combat missions, primarily in Italy and northern Africa. After the war he attended college in Arkansas then worked as a private pilot for several years. The oil business brought him to West Texas and he settled in Abilene in 1953.
J.W. owned numerous airplanes during his life and would fly back and forth for his various business ventures: he owned car dealerships in Midland and Big Spring, he had a toy franchise and he owned a large peach orchard in Arkansas that his dad ran. In 1971 he purchased what was described as the largest peach orchard west of the Mississippi River. It was over 800 acres and had 63,000 trees. He later bought and sold several Texas ranches. However, his real love was the oil business! He was a true Texas wildcatter and was doing oil deals up until just a few months ago. The things that he enjoyed most in his life were flying, quail hunting, his bird dogs and the oil business.
J.W. was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters and his wife, Corinne. He is survived by his only child, Melanie Brown and her husband Kent; grandchildren, Meredith Churchill, her husband Chase and Landon Gray; step-grandchildren, Keaton Brown, his wife Jennifer and Kathryn Thalken and her husband Jon; and his great-grandchildren Chord and Canon Churchill.
Friends are invited to a backyard reception at the home of Melanie and Kent Brown on Friday, May 29 from 4:00 until 6:00, come and go. There will be a private family service. Arrangements are under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, NRA or the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.