William R. King

William R. King, 93, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2020 in Bethlehem, Georgia. He leaves behind his wife, Frances G. King, his three children; William R. King, Jr., John Roger King, Frances K. Mengak, his brother Donald E. King, four grandchildren, and two dogs that he loved very much.

Bill King was born in 1927 in rural southern Ohio to a family of modest means. Two and a half years later, the Great Depression struck and his family moved to Cincinnati to find work. Along with his two brothers and sister, Bill did whatever he could during the lean years of the 1930’s to help his parents put food on the table. In 1944, at the age of 17, Bill joined the Air Force in hopes of becoming a pilot. But his eyesight wasn’t quite good enough. However, his athleticism qualified him to become a drill instructor at Sheppard Field in Texas.

Bill attended Bowling Green State University and Southeastern Louisiana University. He was the Assistant Golf Pro at Terrace Park Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1949, Bill made the best decision of his life when he asked Frances G. Wright to be his wife. They were together for 71 years, raised three children, traveled the world, and lived in four states; Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, and finally Georgia. While Frances taught elementary school, Bill was a coach and then became the first athletic director of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati Princeton went on to become a powerhouse in Ohio high school sports, winning numerous state championships and sending more than a dozen athletes to the NFL, NBA, and MLB.

Bill and Frances spent their retirement years alternating between homes in Ocala, Florida and Topton, North Carolina. They traveled to Europe, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Hawaii. Bill King lived a full life and, as a coach, he influenced the lives of many young men who remembered him and would travel to see their old coach and wish him well. He will be missed by his family and by the many people whose lives he touched. God speed, Bill King.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

www.BernsteinFuneralHome.com