Dennis Retired

After a long and hard battle, Dennis L. King, age 73, of Clovis, NM, went to his heavenly home May 15, 2009.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2009, at Steed-Todd Funeral Chapel in Clovis with Rev. Wes McAfee officiating. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m CDT. Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at Dale Cemetery in Dale, Oklahoma with Rev. Bill Derrick officiating. Full military honors will be conducted at the graveside.

Dennis was born January 9, 1936 to Uie Vick and Naomi King in Seminole, Oklahoma.

He met his wife, Phyllis in 1954 and married May 23, 1955. Dennis truly loved his country. He had a remarkable military career starting at the early age of 13 years old as a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard and joined the United States Air Force in 1956 where he served his country at various locations in the U. S. and overseas Germany; Madison, WI; Korea; Payne Field, WA; Carswell AFB, TX; Seymour Johnson, SC and Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he was exposed to Agent Orange. Dennis retired in 1979 at his last duty station, Cannon AFB, NM where he and his family settled. After retiring he worked for MacDonnell-Douglas in Saudi Arabia until he resigned due to his wife's critical illness.

Dennis received numerous decorations, medals, citations and campaign ribbons such as: AF Commendation, AF Good Conduct with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device and Campaign Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award and many more.

After having cancer and severe damage to his lungs, Dennis was in very poor health; however, he always had a joke to tell and could find a humorous way to express himself and kept everyone laughing. Prior to his illness, he had a great love for sports Dallas Cowboys and University of Oklahoma Sooners, target practice, hunting, snooker and was known as the King of Poker from his buddies.

Survivors include his wife of over 50 years, Phyllis; one daughter, Karen Richard West; grandson, Patrick Kelly; granddaughter Faith of Satellite Beach, FL; 4 brothers, Gene, Jim and Mike of OK and Richard of TN; two sisters, Elaine Caddell of TX and Kathy McKeaigg of CO and numerous nieces and nephews including Cheryl Lasher of OK and Linda and Mike McGivney of TX who provided much loving care to him his last weeks.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Donnie Jerry of Oklahoma and grandson Julian.

A special thanks to all of Dennis's caretakers at the Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis.

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