Rivers Richardson "Dick" King

Rivers Richardson “Dick” King, age 100, died on September 23, 2021 of natural causes. He was a native of New Orleans and a resident of Old Metairie. He was the son of the late Henry Carlton Miller King and the late Katherine Richardson King, brother of the late Katherine King Fraser and the late Barbara King Baugh, and husband of the late Elizabeth “Betsey” Boisfontaine King. He is survived by his wife, Jane Leach King, daughter “Peggy” King Bruce (Robert), grandchildren Rivers King Bruce and Rachel Elizabeth Bruce, three step-children, the late Allen Bush Gamble (Eloise), Katharine Gamble and Timothy Brian Gamble (Tracy) and nine step-grandchildren, Grace, Thomas and Neilson Gamble, Katie, Maggie and Gamble Scrantom, and Allison, Cameron and Emma Gamble. Also survived by nephew, Robert Richardson Baugh and niece, Cynthia Baugh Olsson, both of Birmingham, Alabama and nephew, Scott Stephens of San Diego, CA and Costa Rica and niece Katherine Stephens of Oceanside, CA.

During World War II, Dick flew combat missions in the Southwest Pacific as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps and was awarded a number of Air Medals and a Presidential Unit Citation. He had the unique distinction of serving on active duty, not only with the Marine Corps, but also with the Navy and Air Force. He retired as a Lt. Colonel after thirty-eight years of active and reserve duty.

Dick was a graduate of the Tulane College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 1949, and a graduate of Tulane Law School, Class of 1951. He was a member of Beta Theta Phi Fraternity, the Louisiana Bar Association, on Honor Roll of the Million Dollar Round Table, and past president of the New Orleans Estate Planning Council. He was an active, longtime member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

In civic affairs, he was a former commissioner of the City Park Improvement Association, a former board member of the Metairie Club Gardens Association, Jefferson the Beautiful and St. Martin’s Episcopal School. He was awarded two George Washington Freedom Medals for civic affairs by the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge, PA. He was a regular volunteer at the World War II museum in the Freedom Pavilion, where the aircraft he flew, the SBD Dauntless B4 Bomber, was displayed. This gave him great pleasure to talk about his experiences to those interested in the history of the war.

He was a former Governor and a former Deputy Governor General of the General Society of Colonial Wars, a lifetime member of the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club where he had the distinction, at 95, of being the oldest playing member for many years. He was a member of the Pickwick Club and an old line carnival organization.

Dick loved life, enjoyed and participated in listening to traditional New Orleans jazz, exercised daily thus keeping himself in excellent physical condition throughout his long life. He was devoted to all of his family. Dick was known as a gentleman and a scholar and will be missed by his family and countless friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Memorial Service to be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124 on Friday, October 1, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will follow the service at Trinity Episcopal Church’s columbarium. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or the charity of your choice.

The family invites you to shares your fond thoughts and condolences online at lakelawnmetairie.com.