Charles King

Charles Howard King passed away April 25, 2013 at the age of 87, following a brief illness.  Born July 3, 1925 near Pleasanton, Iowa, he was currently a resident of Gulf Shores, Ala.

A Celebration of Life service was held Monday at Pine Rest Funeral Home in Foley, Ala.

Charlie grew up in Leon, Iowa, graduated high school there in 1943 and travelled as a trombone player in the Jack Cole Band for a short time before being drafted into the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II. He served from 1943 -1947 in France, Germany and Austria in the Cavalry and Armored Division.

Following his discharge from the Army, Charlie was elected as County Auditor of Decatur County, Iowa at the age of 20, too young to vote for himself in the election. He attended Drake University, was inducted as a member of the Order of the Coif, and received his law degree in 1953.

He enjoyed a long career as an attorney in Marshalltown, Iowa, serving seven years of it as County Attorney.   Following his retirement from practice, he served as a Judicial Magistrate in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.   He was a former member of the Iowa State Bar Association, Marshalltown Optimist Club, where he also served as a past president, American Legion, Elmwood Country Club, All Vets Golf Course and a lifetime member of the V.F.W.

Charlie was an avid golfer scoring five hole-in-one certificates. He also enjoyed strumming his guitar, learning new songs over many decades and putting together quite a repertoire with which he enjoyed entertaining friends and family. A love of playing pool began in his teen years and carried through his life. In his later years he could be found playing regularly at After Ours in Gulf Shores .

He is survived by his wife, Jan Loynachan King; daughter-in-law, Kim King, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughter, Renee’ Jones (Stephen E.), of Gulf Shores, Ala.; grandsons, David King and Ryan King of Cedar Rapids, and grandson, Samuel Washington of Gulf Shores; and many longtime friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Golda King; sister, Florence Brown; and niece, Kay Brown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be directed to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, located at 1204 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Gulf Shores, AL 36542, the United Services Organization, or Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Research.