Mr. King was born on April 16, 1923 in Middletown the son of George and Helen (Cantor) King. He honorably served our country in the US Army in WWII - European Theater.
He was predeceased by his wife Doris (Kotzan) King in 1989. He was employed for many years by Pfizer retiring as a Foreman. He also ran George King & Sons Propane and the Mount Holly Country Store of Vermont in his retirement.
Mr. King attended Old Lyme High School where he played football. He was player and captain on one of the last football teams to play in Old Lyme. In 1943, he attended the University of North Carolina where he majored in Physical Education. After 3 months, he was drafted into the Army and eventually was shipped over to Normandy, D-Day + 7. As an MP while directing traffic in Bastogne, he met General Patton who approached him in a military jeep with 3 stars on it and Patton proceeded to give him a K-Ration. Upon returning from the War, Mr. King married his wife, Doris in 1946. They purchased land on Rogers Lake in Old Lyme and raised their 3 sons: Stretch, Jerry and Tim.
Mr. King’s love for fun with his family was always evident. Whether it was boating on the lake, snowmobiling in Vermont, camping across the country or building projects with his sons, there was never a dull moment at the King’s House on Pin Oak Trail. Their door was open for everyone: friends, family and neighbors were always welcomed to stay for dinner prepared with love by Doris. Holiday celebrations were an event. It would not be unusual to see 30-40 people sitting down for a meal. Some of the favorite memories for Mr. King’s Grandchildren were spent at “Ma & Pa King’s” House.
Rogers Lake Residents since 1946, Mr. King and Doris were one of the 8 original year-round members of Rogers Lake. He and other members of the Rogers Lake Community helped to build the Rogers Lake Clubhouse, chimney and all.
He was an avid and diehard NY Yankees fan and even had a hat signed by NY Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman. He was also a fan of the Washington Redskins, Florida Gators and UCONN Women’s Basketball Team, as well. But he was an ultimate fan of the Valley Regional/Lyme-Old Lyme Football Team coached by his son, Tim.
In 2006, Mr. King bought a home in Florida where he wintered in Dade City with his companion: Barbara Johnson. He would drive them south even up to this last winter at age 92. Together they would travel the country, from Niagara Falls to the Redwood Forest, a cruise and train through Alaska and the Panama Canal to visiting the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and taking the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard followed by the Cranberry Bog Train on Cape Cod just 3 weeks before his passing. Mr. King’s life was lived to the fullest right up to the very end.
Mr. King is survived by his two sons: George King III and his wife Bonnie of Old Lyme and Timothy King and his wife Ginny of Old Lyme, two grandchildren: Jesse King and Shannon (King) Tyropolis and her husband Ben, two great-grandchildren: Jagger George and Ezra Jesse Tyropolis and his loving companion: Ms. Barbara Johnson of Old Lyme. He is predeceased by his son Jerry King.
A funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 10:00am in First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 1 McCurdy Rd., Old Lyme. Interment will follow in Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, October 5, 2015 from 6:00 until 8:00pm in Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Ln., Old Lyme, CT 06371. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of George’s favorite places: The Lymes’ Senior Center.
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