Mitchell M. King, Jr., 95, died Sunday, March 7, 2010. He was born September 17, 1914, in Gurdon, AR to Mitchell M. and Rosa Jones King and was a 1932 graduate of Gurdon High School.
Mr. King was a WWII Army Air Force veteran and a member of the "Hell Hawks". He served in the European theater with the 9th Army Air Force, 365th Fighter Group, 388th Fighter Squadron as a First Sergeant. The 365th Fighter Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts and was recently featured in the book, Hell Hawks! The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler's Wehrmacht.
After the war, he worked as a pilot for M&M Crop Dusting and for Kelley-Hixson Funeral Home, which provided the first air ambulance service in Beaumont. He also served as a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church. After retirement, he worked with the Texas Baptist Men Builders, building churches all over the state of Texas. He was also an amateur radio operator with the call sign KD5AWO.
His wife, Margery Coffman King, son, Mitchell M. King, III, and sister, Eloise King Petkovsek, all of Beaumont, preceded him in death. He is survived by daughter, Kathryn King Brocato and husband, Dr. Charles S. Brocato, of Beaumont; sons, Douglas B. King and David M. King of Beaumont; grandchildren, Mitchell M. King IV, David King, and Keith Hermsen; and several great-grandchildren.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. in the Magnolia Cemetery with Rev. Richard Coward, associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, officiating. A visitation will be held at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 10 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.