Rev. Earl King

Please Run obit with Flag Marion Rev. Earl King, 80, passed away Monday, December 24, 2001 at the Marion VA Medical Center at 11:20 A.M. He was born November 27, 1921 in Marion to Earl and Ruth (Fowler) King. They preceded him in death. He married Aleatha Jack in St. Louis, MO May 6, 1943. She survives in Marion. Rev. King was a WW II veteran and landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received during the war. He also received a Distinguished Service Medal during the Korean Conflict. Earl retired from the service as a Captain in 1962. He was active in U.S. Army Reserves and was in charge of building the Marion Army Reserve Unit. He was also in charge of Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri U.S. Army Reserves. Earl also had the honor to swear in his son Earl, when he joined the military. He was a member of American Retired Officers Association and a member of Third Baptist Church in Marion. Rev. King also pastored many churches over the years. They include Davis Prairie, Bankston Fork, First Baptist in Creal Springs, New Salem in Carrier Mills, Maple Grove Baptist in Perks, Fairview Baptist in Creal Springs, AGAPE at Robinson, IL, New Dennison, and Cobden Emmanuel. Survivors include Wife Aleatha King of Marion, Son Bryan R. King of Seoul S. Korea, Sons and Dau-In-Laws Earl L and Sandy King of Bluford, IL, Steven J. and Jama King of Goreville, and Michael E and Susan King of O'Fallon, IL, Dau-In-Law mary King of Marion, Eleven Grandchildren: Sheri Wright of Jonesboro, Conan King of Mt. Vernon, Bo King of Bluford, Becky Jo King of Marion, Aaron King of Marion, Bobby King of Goreville, Nicole King of Goreville, Matthew King of O'Fallon, Michael King of O'Fallon, Amber Odle of Sparta, Sara Quertemous of Marion. Two Great Grandchildren Kristin Wright of Jonesboro and Quinton King Phillips of Goreville. One Sister Anna June Butler of California. Preceding him in death are one Son Samuel L. King, one grandson Chris King, Brother Lester King, and four sisters Loreen Kossack, Velma Cooper, Lillian King, Joan Newell. Funeral services will be held at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home Friday at 1:00 P.M. with Rev's Art Watson and Ken Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Marion with military honors. Visitation will be at the funeral home Thursday evening from 5-9 P.M. Please sign the guest register and view this obituary at www.hughesfuneralhomes.com or www. thesouthern.com .