Philip Ruch King, age 85, of Bartlett, TN, went home to be with the Lord, on Sunday, February 7, 2021, in Gulf Shores, AL. Philip was born August 14, 1935, in Memphis, TN, to the late, Andrew Whitten King and Ada Beulah King. He was a graduate of Treadwell High School in 1953 and upon his graduation he joined the United States Army. Philip also began his career with MLGW while serving his country in 1953. He retired after 25 years in 1979 as the Assistant Chief Gas Dispatcher, in 1995 he retired from the United States Army as a Master Sergeant (E8) and the National Guard after serving for 42 years. Philip began his second career with MLGW in 2000 as part of the Courier Services and Security Team, from which he retired from in 2018. Mr. King was a member of Richland Baptist Church for 18 years and Bartlett Baptist Church for 48 years, where he served as a Deacon, a member of the Kingsmen Class, Kingsmen Accountability Group, and a member of the Bartlett Baptist Orchestra. Philip was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, member for 62 years and served as the Worshipful Master of the Summer Ave. Lodge #729, later a member of the Unity Lodge #95. He was a member of the River City/Memphis Wind Symphony band for 30 years, and an ICU volunteer for Methodist North Hospital for 10 years.
Philip was preceded in death by his wife and high school sweetheart of 63 years, Patricia Adeline King, a brother, Charles "Tootsie" Whitten King, his great granddaughter, Adeline Reid Hollister, and his stepmother, Ila Williams King. Mr. King is survived by his three children; daughters, Kelly Schwartz (Scott), Patti Long (Kent); son, Robbie King (Vicki); 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends beginning at 9am until service time at 10am, on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Bartlett Baptist Church, 3465 Kirby Whitten Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38135 or Memphis Wind Symphony, P.O. Box 382881 Germantown, TN 38183.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the King family.
