Rev. Msgr. Charles B. King
Deceased: 2011-06-01
Diocese: FORT WORTH
Seminary Graduation Year: 1957
ICTE Fall: 1989
Rev. Msgr. Charles King passed away on June 1, 2011. He was born on November 5, 1931, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Charles and Jean Leahey King. He is survived by his sister, Mary Kayser and husband, Donald of Portland, Oregon,; two nieces, four nephews and 16 grandnieces and grandnephews.
He attended the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Wichita Falls, Jesuit High School in Dallas and Wichita Falls Senior High School. After graduation from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he entered the Gregorian Seminary in Rome, Italy, and was ordained a priest in 1956.
After his ordination he returned to Texas where he was assigned to parishes in Dallas, Fort Worth, Wichita Falls and Denton.
Over the years Msgr. King served as the Diocesan Chaplain of the Christian Family Movement, a member of the Diocesan School Board, the Nolan High School Board, the Priests’ Personnel Board and Diocesan Family Life Director. Formerly Msgr. was a charter member of Kiwanis Club of Dallas, active in the Southside Rotary Club of Fort Worth and President of Denton South Rotary Club. He was a strong supporter of Catholic education, active in the Knights of Columbus, the Holy Sepulcher and numerous ecumenical, religious and civic organizations.
In 2009 he initiated a program to shelter homeless people during extremely cold weather with the idea of a shelter eventually becoming a permanent facility in Denton.
Msgr. King’s greatest joy was his priestly vocation. He never tired of offering guidance to those who needed advice regarding their spiritual and daily lives. His love of the Lord was legendary among those who knew him. He spent time in prayer each day and often remarked that his hours of prayer made it possible for him to do all that he was able to. “All†included celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, visiting the sick, counseling those who came to him for help, administering the Sacraments, comforting the dying and their families and reaching out to those who had fallen away from their faith.
Memorials may be made in Msgr. King’s name to Immaculate Conception Church or for the construction of a homeless shelter in the Denton area. Donations may be sent to Immaculate Conception Parish, 2255 North Bonnie Brae Street, Denton, Texas, 76207.
Viewing will be Monday, June 6, 2011, 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a Rosary: 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denton with Bishop Kevin Vann officiating. Burial in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Wichita Falls, Texas.
