Dale E. King

Dale Everett King, age 93, recently passed away. Dale was born on August 24, 1930, on his grandparent's farm in the Swedish community of New Gottland Township outside of McPherson, Kansas to Irene King (Anderson) and Claude Broyes. He was adopted by his stepfather, John "Flago" King when he was three years old and assumed his last name.

Dale is survived by his three children, Leslie King and Alison King of Overland Park and Derek (Mike Sharkey) of Kansas City, Missouri; his nephews, Britt and Tod (Shirley) King of Wichita, KS and Travis Hopp of Santa Monica, CA. Dale was preceded in death by his mother, Irene (1998) and father, Flago (1963); his daughter, Heather Doyle (1992); son in law, John Doyle (1990) and ex-wife, Julia "Judy" (2018), with whom he was still close. He is also preceded in death by his brothers, Dean (2003), Darwin "Darty" (1991) and Charles (1929).

Growing up, Dale's family lived in McPherson and Salina, Kansas where his parents owned and operated Flago's Cafe. All of dale's immediate family worked at Flago's, including Dale, who often told the story about one of his duties being dressing the chickens after they were sacrificed live in the back alley right outside the restaurant's back door! He also worked for his father's subsequent business, which is still in operation, and summers on his grandparent's farm.

Dale graduated from McPherson High School, where he played on the football team, and was a graduate of Kansas State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in industrial psychology and where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Dale married Julia Heather Hopp in 1959. The couple first lived in Wichita where Dale was employed by Sinclair Oil as a management trainee. After a year, he left to work for Universal Underwriters (now Zurich) as an insurance broker. He was transferred to Columbia, Missouri in 1962, then finally to the Kansas City area (Overland Park) in 1964. In 1975, Dale struck out on his own and formed his own brokerage, the Dale King Agency, which he operated until the mid-2000's.

Dale fought in the Korean War serving in the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, nicknamed "The Indians," and saw direct action in the conflict. He was promoted to Company Clerk as he was the only private who knew how to type.

Dale enjoyed history, politics, classic movies, watching football and college basketball, playing golf, time spent socializing at the pool, and walking for exercise on the trail across from his home. A voracious reader on any number of topics, but especially of history, Dale could often be found with a book, newspaper or magazine under his nose.

Dale's breadth of historical knowledge, his near-photographic memory and his ability to recite events, dates and facts about history, as well as about current events and topics, was always a source of family awe. Even in the last few months of his life, Dale could recite all of the presidents' names starting backward at Washington.

Dale was known to recite poems to lift other's spirits, including those of Ralph Waldo Emerson and E.E. Cummings. Dale was quick-witted and loved to make people laugh--and think.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 2nd, at 3:00 pm, at the small country New Gottland Lutheran Church that Dale attended as a young boy. His ashes will be interred next to his daughter, parents and brother in the family plot beside the church. A small gathering will follow (location to be determined).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleyhoge.com for the King family.