Obituary for Tim King
Benjamin Timothy Bernard Irving King was born on February 2, 1955 at the US Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia to Russel and Fuschia King. “Tim” was a cowboy, dancer, and comedian from day one, the entertainer of the family.
Born into a Navy family, moving around was common, but in typical Tim fashion, he joked instead that they moved “every time the rent was due”. He loved turning life into comedy. The family moved from Virginia to Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, then finally calling Texas home. Tim spent his high school days at Kimball High in Oak Cliff.
If you knew Tim for any amount of time, you have heard at least one story from his colorful childhood with his beloved six siblings. He got a lot of sympathy for the story about Sissy throwing him out the 2-story window and left our jaws on the floor when he told about chopping Rusty’s finger off with a shovel and getting Matt run over by a car. He beamed with pride over the family’s musical talents and how Stephanie always kept her baby brother safe and well fed. He was extremely close to his brothers and sisters and when they each married, he grew just as close to their spouses. They were his best friends in every stage of life.
To say the least, Tim was wild and free, as untamed as the wind and often took his fun to extremes. He was a tremendous athlete in school, but chose not to partake in the traditional teen joys like prom and movie dates. He loved music, musicians, parties, girls, late nights, and making people laugh…and he was good at it. As he would say, “I’m a professional.”
On a personal level, Tim longed for companionship. He found love early and at only 16, had his first baby, Jason. With adulthood coming quickly, he had to make a big decision for his future. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the US Navy at 17 years old.
Tim served on the USS Norton Sound and was stationed at Port Hueneme, California. He spoke proudly of his military service in later years, but at the time, he wasn’t finished sowing his wild oats. He was blessed with love again and had his second baby, Lydia Faye. As much as he loved his baby girl, he had a passion that he couldn’t resist…bull riding.
Tim packed up and set out on the bull riding circuit in mid 1970s. He talked about his days traveling among “real” bull riders and how they rode without helmets or pads. Tough as nails and crazy as they come, Tim fit right in. He moved in and out of one state after another and one relationship after another. Wild and free.
Maybe it was the traveling, maybe it was all the partying, maybe it was all the injuries, but Tim called it quits, hung up the spurs, and moved back to Texas in the 80s. He decided he needed to “get a real job.” His third child came along not by birth, but by choice. Tim took in a 15-year-old boy who was suddenly and tragically left alone in the world. Tim’s heart was as big as they come. From that day forward, he introduced Jared as his son and he meant it. They were as thick as thieves.
Later, Tim settled down in East Texas where he had his baby girl, Christine. He was a committed father spending hours feeding, reading to, playing with, and loving her. He wanted to be a better dad than he had been before, so he vowed to go through anything to be a great dad to her. And that he was.
In those days, his passion for team roping grew. He continued to live life in a big way and enjoyed gathering with friends. Usually in an arena with a cooler of cold beer, you would always find a crowd around him. Tim was the party. He played hard and he worked hard, always bringing family members into his success and sharing opportunities generously.
Tim had a big personality and everything he touched turned to gold, but behind the success, he hid his heartache well. Times grew difficult at home and Tim was forced to make tough life decisions yet again. He wasn’t a stranger to starting over and his siblings were right there to help him through. He left for New Mexico and into the loving home of Matt & Melissa. As Tim always does, he bounced back better than ever.
On a brief trip back home to Texas in 2008. He met Sandy, made an instant connection, and as he said, “couldn’t marry her fast enough”. He found love and the perfect reason to get back home and closer to his kids. Tim often spoke of Sandy as his perfect match. He admired her strength and bragged about her every chance he could. He took in Shane and Lauren as his son and daughter, never adding the word “step-“ when he talked about them. They were his kids. He was proud of the life they shared and loved nothing more than being home.
Tim was good at everything, but in the end, he was best at being a family man. He drew especially close to his in-laws spending time with them almost daily and of course, he adored being “Mim”. He spent the last 15 years, content and happy.
He was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 2021, but as Tim King does, he beat cancer in only four months. A survivor and a fighter, Tim elected to undergo a stem-cell transplant In November hoping to keep the cancer from coming back. As hard as he fought, the transplant was hard on his body. He went through rejection twice, growing weaker with each episode. Tim passed away on March 20, 2022 after a two-week battle with pneumonia. He took his last breath peacefully and exactly where he loved being, in a room full of family with Sandy by his side.
Tim is reunited in Heaven with both of his parents and two brothers, Ray and Rusty. He is survived by his loving wife, Sandy, four siblings: Sissy Wallace, Stephanie Fitzpatrick, Sharon Mellem, Matt King and wife Melissa King, six children: Jason King, Lydia King, Jared Lane, Christine King, Shane Landers, and Lauren Cummings, ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, many beloved nieces and nephews and a family of in-laws. Tim leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter that will live on forever.
In lieu of flowers, please considering donating to the Miracle League of Ellis County, a nonprofit that provides joy in the lives of children with special and is dear to Tim and Sandy’s heart. There will be a donation box at the visitation and funeral service or you can mail to 138 Hackney Dr. Waxahachie, TX 75165.
Born into a Navy family, moving around was common, but in typical Tim fashion, he joked instead that they moved “every time the rent was due”. He loved turning life into comedy. The family moved from Virginia to Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, then finally calling Texas home. Tim spent his high school days at Kimball High in Oak Cliff.
If you knew Tim for any amount of time, you have heard at least one story from his colorful childhood with his beloved six siblings. He got a lot of sympathy for the story about Sissy throwing him out the 2-story window and left our jaws on the floor when he told about chopping Rusty’s finger off with a shovel and getting Matt run over by a car. He beamed with pride over the family’s musical talents and how Stephanie always kept her baby brother safe and well fed. He was extremely close to his brothers and sisters and when they each married, he grew just as close to their spouses. They were his best friends in every stage of life.
To say the least, Tim was wild and free, as untamed as the wind and often took his fun to extremes. He was a tremendous athlete in school, but chose not to partake in the traditional teen joys like prom and movie dates. He loved music, musicians, parties, girls, late nights, and making people laugh…and he was good at it. As he would say, “I’m a professional.”
On a personal level, Tim longed for companionship. He found love early and at only 16, had his first baby, Jason. With adulthood coming quickly, he had to make a big decision for his future. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the US Navy at 17 years old.
Tim served on the USS Norton Sound and was stationed at Port Hueneme, California. He spoke proudly of his military service in later years, but at the time, he wasn’t finished sowing his wild oats. He was blessed with love again and had his second baby, Lydia Faye. As much as he loved his baby girl, he had a passion that he couldn’t resist…bull riding.
Tim packed up and set out on the bull riding circuit in mid 1970s. He talked about his days traveling among “real” bull riders and how they rode without helmets or pads. Tough as nails and crazy as they come, Tim fit right in. He moved in and out of one state after another and one relationship after another. Wild and free.
Maybe it was the traveling, maybe it was all the partying, maybe it was all the injuries, but Tim called it quits, hung up the spurs, and moved back to Texas in the 80s. He decided he needed to “get a real job.” His third child came along not by birth, but by choice. Tim took in a 15-year-old boy who was suddenly and tragically left alone in the world. Tim’s heart was as big as they come. From that day forward, he introduced Jared as his son and he meant it. They were as thick as thieves.
Later, Tim settled down in East Texas where he had his baby girl, Christine. He was a committed father spending hours feeding, reading to, playing with, and loving her. He wanted to be a better dad than he had been before, so he vowed to go through anything to be a great dad to her. And that he was.
In those days, his passion for team roping grew. He continued to live life in a big way and enjoyed gathering with friends. Usually in an arena with a cooler of cold beer, you would always find a crowd around him. Tim was the party. He played hard and he worked hard, always bringing family members into his success and sharing opportunities generously.
Tim had a big personality and everything he touched turned to gold, but behind the success, he hid his heartache well. Times grew difficult at home and Tim was forced to make tough life decisions yet again. He wasn’t a stranger to starting over and his siblings were right there to help him through. He left for New Mexico and into the loving home of Matt & Melissa. As Tim always does, he bounced back better than ever.
On a brief trip back home to Texas in 2008. He met Sandy, made an instant connection, and as he said, “couldn’t marry her fast enough”. He found love and the perfect reason to get back home and closer to his kids. Tim often spoke of Sandy as his perfect match. He admired her strength and bragged about her every chance he could. He took in Shane and Lauren as his son and daughter, never adding the word “step-“ when he talked about them. They were his kids. He was proud of the life they shared and loved nothing more than being home.
Tim was good at everything, but in the end, he was best at being a family man. He drew especially close to his in-laws spending time with them almost daily and of course, he adored being “Mim”. He spent the last 15 years, content and happy.
He was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 2021, but as Tim King does, he beat cancer in only four months. A survivor and a fighter, Tim elected to undergo a stem-cell transplant In November hoping to keep the cancer from coming back. As hard as he fought, the transplant was hard on his body. He went through rejection twice, growing weaker with each episode. Tim passed away on March 20, 2022 after a two-week battle with pneumonia. He took his last breath peacefully and exactly where he loved being, in a room full of family with Sandy by his side.
Tim is reunited in Heaven with both of his parents and two brothers, Ray and Rusty. He is survived by his loving wife, Sandy, four siblings: Sissy Wallace, Stephanie Fitzpatrick, Sharon Mellem, Matt King and wife Melissa King, six children: Jason King, Lydia King, Jared Lane, Christine King, Shane Landers, and Lauren Cummings, ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, many beloved nieces and nephews and a family of in-laws. Tim leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter that will live on forever.
In lieu of flowers, please considering donating to the Miracle League of Ellis County, a nonprofit that provides joy in the lives of children with special and is dear to Tim and Sandy’s heart. There will be a donation box at the visitation and funeral service or you can mail to 138 Hackney Dr. Waxahachie, TX 75165.