John R. King

John “Rinky” King, age 76 of Austin, died peacefully with this loving children at his side on Sunday, September 10, 2006. He was born on September 22, 1929 in Crockett, Texas, the only child of the late Myra and John R. King, Sr. He studied geology at the University of Texas at Austin before serving in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, first as a battalion G-2 at Fort Lewis, Washington and later as a forward observer in the 176th Armored Field Artillery Battalion during the Korean War. After his military service, the completion of his college career was sidetracked by his marriage in 1955 to Jean Towson King, a love that lasted 37 years until her sudden death in September 1992. Mr. King enjoyed a fulfilling 36-year career in the Highway Design Division of the Texas Department of Transportation, scheduling highway construction projects statewide for contracting, from farm to market roads to urban interstate interchanges. Starting there in 1955 at the beginning of construction of the Interstate Highway System, he saw its completion the year of his retirement in 1991. Mr. King is survived by his son, John W. King and wife, Jeanne Yturri; daughter, Martha King and her partner, Beverly Lester; granddaughters, Kelly King Shugart and Lauren King Shugart, all of Austin. A truly gracious man, he will be fondly remembered by his longtime neighbors, military buddies, former TxDOT colleagues, and extended family and friends, old and new, including many of his caregivers at Brighton Gardens in Austin. Graveside service will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at Forest Oaks Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com