Leo King

Leo King, 88, of Fort Smith, died Wednesday, December 1, 2010 in Fort Smith. Leo and his twin sister, Leah King Hunt, were born to Edgar King and Lilly Wilson King on October 29, 1922 in Young Gravelly (Yell County), Arkansas, southeast of Waldron.

Leo grew up during the Great Depression and was raised to have a strong work ethic. He worked the farm fields, picked cotton, and did whatever he could to help support the family. He comes from a very musical family, and they all enjoyed singing Gospel Music. As a young man, he attended Gospel Music Rudiment Schools where he learned to read music using the “Shaped-note” method. He later served as Choir Director and Deacon of their church, First Free Will Baptist Church, for several decades. In later years, Leo and Clara became members of Goddard United Methodist Church. Leo attended Fourche Valley High School where he enjoyed mathematics, playing basketball, and running track. It was there he met his future wife, Clara Cooper. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps prior to his marriage to Clara on September 19, 1942. Three months later, he was inducted into the U.S. Army during World War II. Leo was a member of the 335th Infantry, 84th Division, “Railsplitters”. He served in Germany, Belgium, the Ardennes, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon discharge from the Army, Leo worked at Fort Smith Chair Company as an upholsterer. He then attended trade school to learn printing and was employed as pressman at Weldon, Williams, and Lick in Fort Smith. He and Clara both worked there, and Leo retired at age 65 after 38 years of service. Leo was a resident of Methodist Nursing Home since February 2008.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Clara King of Barling; one daughter, Bettye and husband Cyril Schneider of Hackett, AR.; twin sister, Leah King Hunt and her husband Rex of Grass Valley, CA., and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four sisters, Ethel & husband Jess Kitchens, Nadine & husband Reverend Robert Hidde, Louise and husband Orgel Jones, and Lula King; three brothers, Odell King, Reverend Robert King & wife Nellie and Cleo King & wife Charlene King.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 10:00 AM in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren, AR all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Friday evening from 4-6 PM.

Memorials may be made to Goddard United Methodist Church 1922 Dodson Fort Smith, AR 72901 or the Methodist Nursing Home 1915 South 74th Fort Smith, AR 72903

To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com