King Jr., Howard Perley

Howard Perley King Jr., 93, of Blacksburg VA, passed away on January 20, 2017. He was born November 16, 1923 and was the son of Howard King Sr. and Eloise Smith King, and the stepson of Beulah Berry King. He was preceded in death by his brothers Alan King and William King, sister Elizabeth King Swanson, and daughter-in-law Deborah Warner King.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Thelma Thomas King; son Howard III and his wife Linda; daughter Cynthia and her husband Michael Moorman, and son Mark and his husband Jonathan Lubin; and seven grandchildren (Howard IV, Robert, Christopher, Mason, Madison, Harris, and Devlin), and seven great-grandchildren (Brendan, Zachary, Savannah, Christopher, Deborah, Alyssa, and Jonathan).

Howard was born in Orange NJ, graduated from Bloomfield (NJ) High School, and entered Cornell University in 1941. He enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and served in the European theatre of World War II in the 75th Division. He returned to Cornell after the war, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in hotel management in 1947.

While working in Nashville TN at the Belle Meade Country Club, he met Thelma Thomas on a blind date, subsequently marrying her on April 7, 1950. He, along with Thelma and son Howard III, moved to Blacksburg VA in 1955 when he became the Director of Food Services at Virginia Tech. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Virginia Tech in 1967. He served the National Association of College and University Food Services in various roles including conference chairman and president. He retired from Virginia Tech in 1989, and was honored with the title of “Director Emeritus”.

Howard continued to serve in the US Army Reserve, eventually retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He also devoted his time to the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, serving in numerous positions including chairman of the Board. He was also active in Boy Scouts, and the Blacksburg/Christiansburg Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.

A graveside service with military honors for family and guests will be conducted at Westview Cemetery on Roanoke Street in Blacksburg at 11am on Saturday June 17, 2017. Afterwards, the family invites friends, neighbors, and community to a luncheon at Blacksburg United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, or the Warm Hearth Foundation. Funeral arrangements are being handled by McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg.