Robert C. “Bob” King Jr. died Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. He was 85.

Born in Vicksburg, he was the son of the late Robert C. King Sr. and Nellie Finch King. He was a graduate of St. Aloysius College and after graduation joined the Navy. He served in the Pacific Theatre in World War II and the Atlantic area during the Korean War.

Mr. King retired in 1986 from LeTourneau as supervisor of the Mechanical and Electrical Departments with 42 years of service. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 898, where he served as grand knight in 1978 and 1979 and had served in several state functions. He was a lifelong communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a wife, Eunice L. King; and two sisters, Barbara Nell Dwyer and Mary Lou Blackmon.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Stuart King; five daughters, Eunice “Dolly” Ball of Ridgeland, Barbara Helen “Bobbye” Davenport of Hermanville, Madonna “Donna” Bliss of Atoka, Tenn., Susan Doolittle of Madison and Dorothy Nell Gordon of South Lake, Texas; two sons, Jerome “Jerry” Loftin of Granbury, Texas, and Michael Joseph “Mike” Loftin of Monroe, La.; two sisters, Frances Sanders and Lois Alford, both of Vicksburg; one brother, Otto Cecil King of Metairie, La.; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Alfred Camp officiating. Burial will be at Green Acres Memorial Park with a reception to follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Fisher Ferry Road. Visitation will be from 5:30 until 7 tonight at Riles Funeral Home and Wednesday at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the service. A prayer service and rosary will begin at 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be James Douglas Loftin, Chaz Loftin, David Ball, Richard Johnson, Russell Johnson, Michael Bliss, Jimmy Salmon, Herbert Reubin and Timothy Reubin.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Sanders, Wayne McMaster, Joseph Gerache Sr., Dr. Tom Mitchell, Donald Atkinson, Bradford Walker, Donald Murray, Chip Murray, Rafe Jordan, Dean Voight, the Rev. Denny Allman, Randy Johnson, Tom Isaac, Bernard Theobald, Bo Alford, Greg Warnock, Sonny Sucharski and members of the Knights of Columbus, Council 898.  

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, P.O. Box 646, Vicksburg, MS 39181 and to Vicksburg Catholic School, 1900 Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39183.