Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Dr. Allen Dupree King, Sr. and May Loeffler Keech King. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Suzanne Hofmann King; his sister, Ernestine Loeffler King, Frankfurt, KY; his daughter, Suzanne King Jackson (Stan), Aiken, SC; his son, Stephen Allen King, Aiken, SC; his son, Peter Morton King, Lexington, GA; and grandchildren: Ashlan Dupree Jackson, Nashville, TN; Conner Stephen King, Estill Springs, TN; Lauren Jackson Daniel (Carter), Augusta, GA; Austin Mathew Jackson (Kaycie), Augusta, GA; and great-granddaughter, Sumner Christine Daniel.
He attended Wilmington Friends School in Wilmington, Delaware where he played varsity football and varsity baseball. He received his BA in physics from Colgate University in 1956 where he was a member of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. He earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Texas, Austin in 1961. There he met his bride-to-be, artist Suzanne Hofmann.
Dr. King began his career with Texaco, Inc. in Beacon, New York in 1961. There their first child Suzanne was born. He decided to pursue a career in research and teaching and received the R.A. Welch Postdoctural Fellowship at The University of Texas, Austin. He accepted a position as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Georgia in 1963. Here he enjoyed decades as a dedicated, popular member of the faculty. During his tenure he received the ACS Student Affiliate Undergraduate Teaching Award in 1983 and served as graduate coordinator from 1984 until his retirement. He taught his last chemistry course at the age of 78. He retired as Emeritus Professor of Chemistry.
In addition to his teaching and research in the chemistry department at UGA, he consulted with Brookhaven National Labs, Inc. in 1980, with Lester Laboratories, Atlanta from 1979-1985, and Enzymatic Deinking Technologies (EDT), Atlanta from 1994 to 2006. His research focused on fundamental chemical research related to areas of coal and other energy sources, nuclear physics, textiles and dyes, and pharmacology. He held significant research grants and was responsible for several patents. He also published numerous papers and articles with a focus on colloid and surface chemistry.
Dr. King was passionate about teaching, research and his students. He often left social events early to tend to an experiment in his lab or to oversee the progress of his graduate students. But he pursued other passions as well. His childhood on the family farm in Wilmington, Delaware instilled in him a love of farming and a lifelong concern for all creatures great and small. Wild and domestic animals took up with him at his home on Historic Woodlawn Avenue, a house he and Suzanne purchased in the early 1960s.
His family grew to include two sons as his expansive garden in his backyard grew in the production of vegetables and flowers, all shared with friends in his tight knit Five Points neighborhood and beyond. He and Suzanne combined their creative talents in a partnership of “farm to table” meals enjoyed by all on their back porch as wildlife and house dog looked on. He had a great love of family.
Humble to the end, he was modest about his accomplishments and quirky in his sense of humor.
His professional and community affiliations included the American Chemical Society, Sigma XI (president), American Institute of Physics, Athens Country Club, Historic Athens, and First Presbyterian Church of Athens.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 2:00 pm, at First Presbyterian Church of Athens, 185 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Athens or to the “UGA Foundation” mailed to Franklin College of Arts & Sciences, Attn.: Office of Development, 124 Old College Avenue, Athens, GA 30601. Indicate the Chemistry Department in subject line of check.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
