Jack King

Jack J. King, 91, of Independence, Kansas passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2019 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 23, 2019 at the First Christian Church in Independence, Kansas with burial to follow in Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence, Kansas. Friends may register from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at Webb & Rodrick Chapel and Crematory with the family receiving friends from 6:00 – 8:00p.m at the chapel. Memorials may be made to the Frist Christian Church and may be left with the chapel.

Jack was born July 29, 1928 in Three Sands, Oklahoma he was the son of Vester and Thelma (Hasty) King. He was raised in Winfield, Kansas and graduated from Winfield High School in 1947 where he excelled in baseball and basketball. He served in the United States Navy in 1948-1949 where he also played basketball aboard the USS Princeton. He later attended Arkansas City Junior College (Now Cowley College) where he was captain of the 1953 basketball team that finished second in the nation. Jack attended Southwestern College in Winfield on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1955. He later earned a Master’s Degree from Northwestern State College in Alva, Oklahoma. Jack’s teaching and coaching career included Mulvane, Derby, Arkansas City and Independence. He taught history and coached baseball, basketball, track, and tennis. He was instrumental in revitalizing the tennis program in Independence, Kansas.

Jack was united in marriage to Marsha K. Wills on May 29, 1970 at the First Christian Church in Arkansas City, Kansas. The couple made their home in Independence, Kansas for the past 49 years. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Independence, Kansas where he chaired several committees, served as Deacon and Elder. He was also a member of The King’s Sunday School Class. Jack was inducted into the Cowley County Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 and named the 2013 outstanding Tiger Alumnus. He was also a member of the V.F.W.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, and three brothers, Raymond E. William T. and James L. King. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 49 years Marsha of the home, two sons, Roger ( Lynne) King, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jeff King, Prairie Village, Kansas; one daughter, Marilyn ( Maury) Finuf, Wichita, Kansas; one brother, Bob ( Dixie) King, Mulvane, Kansas; two sisters in law, Karen  King and Illean King, both of Winfield, Kansas; six grandchildren, Chris (Bobbi) King, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Aidan (Rod) Brown, Louisville, Kentucky, Ryan Turner, Wichita, Kansas; James Turner, Wichita, Kansas; Amelie King, Prairie Village, Kansas Alec King, Prairie Village, Kansas; and six great grandchildren, Eric, Emma, Drew, Cole, Miles and Meredith. To leave a special message for the family please visit www.webbrodrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Webb & Rodrick Chapel and Crematory.