Robert Bennett King Jr.

Robert “Bob” Bennett King Jr., passed away peacefully on August 22nd, 2015 at the age of 86. Bob was one of three sons from Betsy Korst and Robert Bennett King of Livonia, Michigan. Born September 19, 1928 in Pontiac, Michigan, Bob attended Grosse Pointe High School and was an avid tennis player playing alongside his still best friend, Alex “Ax” Jemal and Bobby Riggs. Bob then attended Kalamazoo College during which time he was appointed to West Point Military Academy. He graduated from West Point in 1952, and continued with graduate studies at Ohio State University, where he obtained a Masters in Geodesy. From 1952 to 1982 Bob proudly served his country as a pilot in the United States Air Force earning the rank of Colonel, flying the F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre and the Lockheed F-104 Star fighter. He was initially assigned to the Korean War just before it ended. In 1958, he was stationed at Wheelus Air Base in Libya, Africa where he met his beloved wife of 56 years, Christina Horbach King. He also served as a pilot in Vietnam. After many more assignments, Bob was selected as the Chief of staff at the Pentagon and was initially appointed to be the Military Attaché in Jakarta, Indonesia, but due to one of his sons, Eric, passing away, he had to forgo this assignment, eventually being deployed as the Military Defense Attaché in Ankara, Turkey. After Bob retired from the Air Force, he worked in the private sector with multiple Defense Contractors before retiring to Middleburg, Virginia. He then spent his last few years in Sugar Land, TX.

Bob was an avid tennis player all his life, and shared this passion with his wife, sons and family. He also enjoyed gardening, reading and listening to jazz. He gave back to the community as a volunteer at the Emmanuel and Methodist Church in Middleburg, VA.

Bob is survived by his loving wife, Christina Horbach King; his two brothers, Bill King and wife Ilze, and George King; his two sons, Christian King and wife Maeve, and Ira and wife Sandra; and three grandchildren, Alexander, Cara, and Ericka, all whom will miss him dearly.

Col. Robert Bennett King Jr. to be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington. VA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Bob's memory be made to Houston Hospice @www.houstonhospice.org.

Please access the following link for more information: https://www.facebook.com/RobertBennettKing.