Col. Usaf (Ret) Raymond Joseph King, Jr.

Col. USAF (Ret) Raymond Joseph King, Jr. 97, of Valdosta, died on Monday, March 9, 2020. Ray was born in Poughkeepsie, NY to the late Raymond Joseph King, Sr. & Mary Filosa King. Growing up in Silver Lake, NY, he first met Doris Aguzi in kindergarten and the couple began dating in high school. Ray & Doris were married in 1943, just prior to Ray entering the service during WWII. And they were married for 74 years prior to her death in September of 2017. Ray began his career as an Air Force officer as a navigator in C-47’s and KC-97’s prior to entering the Minute Man Missile Operations. Col. Kings career took the King family to such places as, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Nebraska. His final assignment was as Vice Wing Commander of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing at Ellsworth AFB, a Strategic Air Command Base in South Dakota. Upon Ray’s retirement in 1973, the Kings settled in Florida. In the early 1980’s, they moved to Valdosta and opened a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Store, where his specialty was tasting the ice cream to defend quality control. An avid golfer, Ray loved playing with his wife and friends, but his great love was the grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was devoted to his family, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, attending all the games, recitals and any other event involving the kids. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Survivors include his daughter and son in law, Pat and John Spaeth of Anaheim, CA; son and daughter in law, Ray and Linda King of Valdosta; grandchildren, Jonna (Jim) Beauregard of Wellesley, MA; John (Abbie) Spaeth of Laguna Niguel, CA; Ray, Jr. (Sallyann) King of Decatur; Stephanie (Thompson) Kurrie of Valdosta; Matthew (Brooke) King of Valdosta; Allison (Ross) Heare of Beaumont, TX; fourteen great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Doris King and two brothers, Robert King and William King.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020 the Mausoleum at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Father Brian La Burt will officiate. Entombment will follow. The family will receive friends at the Mausoleum on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306. Condolences may be conveyed online for the Carson McLane Funeral Home at www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home