Billy Frank King

Billy Frank King age 87 of Dallas, TX died Wednesday, January 14th in Dallas, TX.  He was born September 29th, 1927 in Warren, AR, a son of the late G. H. “Red” King and Euda Singer King.  He grew up in Warren attending the Warren Pubic Schools, he was a 1945 valedictorian graduate  and served as the Captain of the Lumberjack football team. In 1946 he joined and served in the United States Army in post war occupation forces of Japan attaining the rank of Sergeant.   A graduate of Ouachita College in 1950 with a BS in Math and Physics, he was a big fan of the Ouachita Tigers football team. When the Tigers played Texas A&M- Commerce a couple of years ago in Commerce, TX, he was proud to be in his wheelchair in the stands rooting for his Tigers. He was called up from the Army reserve for the Korean War and was discharged in August 1951.  In the 1951-1952 school years, he taught math and was a football coach for the Crossett Eagles in Crossett, AR.  He joined Western Geophysical Company as a geophysicist in 1952.  In 1954 he moved to Port Arthur, TX and on September 4th, 1954 he married his late wife Mamie Wilson King where in 1960 they moved to Houston, TX and he served as a sales manager for Kendall Corporation  in the Polyken Pipeline Coating Division. Before their move to Houston, in 1958 he ran the seismograph crew that discovered the world’s largest oil field in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran. This was the start of significant worldwide business travel he would undertake throughout his life, visiting obscure places such as Punta Arenas, Chile, Perth, Australia, and Algeria. In 1969 they moved to Austin, TX where he became Vice-president and General Manager of Cupples Coiled Pipe Company and returned to Houston in 1976 as Vice President of Sales for Gulf States Asphalt Co.  In 1992 until 2002, he helped found and operate the Cleveland Asphalt Products Co and remained with them until his retirement in 1992 at which time he relocated to Dallas, TX.

He is survived by his son, Jim King and spouse Terry, Dallas, TX; a daughter Donna Garrett and spouse Bruce, Coppell, TX, a sister Mary Barrett, Warren, AR,  grandchildren and great-grandchildren survive him.  Billy was loved and admired by those who knew him and will be missed by many.   The family would like to express deep appreciation to the caregivers that have surrounded our dad with love and support, Yolanda Carr, Donna Menes, Yimie  Yai, Rita and Kevin Benson, Dorian Spencer and Candace Armstrong.  Yolanda and Donna have been with him for 4 1/2 years extending and expanding his life beyond his physical capabilities.

Graveside services 1:30pm Saturday, January 17th at Oakland Cemetery in Warren, AR. Burial in Oakland Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home.  Visitation 12:00pm till 1:15pm Saturday, January 17th at Frazer’s Funeral Home. Online guestbook www.frazerfuneralhome.com