William Harvey King

William “Bill” Harvey King

August 18, 1941- December 25, 2024

On December 25, 2024, William (Bill) Harvey King, 83, native of Dallas, Texas, passed on from this world to our Savior Jesus after a longtime struggle with PTSD, COPD and mental health illness in the compassionate care of the North Texas VA Hospice Community Care staff. Bill proudly served in the U.S. Navy from July 1960 to September 1964 until honorably discharged after serving in the USS BASHAW (SS/AGSS-241) as an Electronics Technician Third Class.

Bill’s hobbies as a boy included model airplanes and hunting with his father. He grew up under the guidance of Brandon Street Methodist Church. He played trombone in L. V. Stockard Jr. High and continued playing the trombone in the Sunset Marching Band. Bill joined ROTC and graduated from Sunset High School in 1959. He attended Arlington State College (now UTA) for one year and then joined the U.S. Navy in 1960. Upon his return to civilian life, Bill worked as a Production Operator with Frito-Lay in its Dallas headquarters and for Russell Staten rebuilding packaging machines. Another personal endeavor later in life was MODCOT EMS. He joined the American Legion TX Post 81 in Duncanville, Texas, and remained a member until his last breathe.

He thoroughly enjoyed radio, music of the 1940’s and 50’s, dancing, and Big Band Sound. He delighted in the theater, inventing, writing, singing in choir and trouble-shooting for wholesale packaging equipment. He also spent many hours tinkering with automobiles with his first love being a Buick from his parents; and, one of his favorites being a 1965 Mustang of which he was the proud original owner.

He is preceded in death by his parents William Jennings King in 2004 and Ruby Nell Churchwell King in 2006. He is survived by his sisters Pamela King Witherspoon of Nashville, AR, and Ramona King Simons (Larry) of Dallas, TX; son William Robert Dolehite of Dallas, TX, and daughter Jennifer Jo Dolehite of Virginia Beach, VA, from his prior marriage to Judith Ann (Rockefeller) Dolehite at Christ Episcopal Church in September 1961; niece Stacey Lynn Busby (Jeremy), nephews Cordon J. Simons (Esther) and Brook D. Simons (Cherokee); great-niece Kristen N. Busby and great-nephew Corbin W. Simons; and cousins Clayton William Beaudry of Montrose, CO, James Roy Beaudry of Creston, British Columbia, and Sheri Rush of Kilgore, TX, and their respective families. 

Service officiant will be Pastor John Kay of Tyler Street Methodist Church at Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home at 1226 S Elm Street in Kemp, TX on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. with inurnment to follow in Kemp Cemetery.

The family of Bill King thanks you for your thoughts, prayers, and sympathy. You are welcome to contribute in memory of Bill to the charity of your choice or to send flowers from Joyce Florist of Dallas 2729 S. Hampton Rd. 214-942-1776.