A wake will be held on Thursday, May 30th at 6:00 p.m. at Vondel Smith & Son Mortuary, 6934 S. Western Avenue, and funeral mass will be held at St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 4201 S. McKinley Avenue, on Friday, May 31st at 1:00 p.m. with interment following at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13400 N. Kelly Avenue, Oklahoma

Joseph Bernard King

August 16, 1933 ~ May 20, 2024

Late in the evening of Monday, May 20, 2024, Joseph Bernard King, a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at the age of 90.

Joseph was born on August 16, 1933, in Philadelphia, PA, the youngest of nine children to James G. King and Catherine V. (Carlson) King. He graduated from Haddon Heights High School in New Jersey in 1951 and enlisted in the United States Air Force a year later.

Joseph's Air Force career spanned over two decades and took him around the globe, with assignments to fourteen bases including Taiwan, Great Britain, and throughout the United States. He retired in March 1973 as a Master Sergeant. His second career began in October 1973 at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, where he was hand-selected to be part of the technical services team for the engines to be used in the B-1, B-2, and KC135 aircraft. He worked in the Jet Propulsion Unit until his retirement in March 1995.

He married Joan Eagan in May 1955, and they welcomed three daughters: Maureen, Barbara, and Patricia. Later in 1967 he married Frances Jo Ann Keller, becoming a stepfather to Nita Jo. Joe and Jo Ann raised two additional daughters, Mary and Rebecca, whom they adopted in 1993.

Family was the beating heart of Joe's life. He was a proud grandfather to seventeen grandchildren and great-grandfather to thirty-two great-grandchildren. He was a devout Catholic and an active parish member of St. James the Greater in South Oklahoma City for more than 30 years.

Joe possessed a delightful singing voice, a talent he rarely showcased outside his home. He was a constant source of dad jokes, puns, and lightheartedness. His family will forever cherish his renditions of "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder" and his infectious laughter. Joe was proud of his Irish heritage.

Joe was happiest when watching Notre Dame football or when helping others. His family instinctively turned to him for guidance in any crisis; he always knew the right thing to do and never hesitated to show up when needed.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Catherine and James, his seven sisters and one brother, and his wife, Jo Ann King.

Joe is survived by his daughters Maureen Comstock (Robert Comstock) of Salt Lake City, Utah; Barbara King of Magna, Utah; Patricia DiNardo (David DiNardo) of Runnemede, New Jersey; Mary King (Brian Smolensky) of Strafford, VT; Rebecca King (Jessica King) of Walsenburg, CO; Nita Jo Buckhalter of Oklahoma City, OK; his sister in law, Doris Keller of TX; and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe will be deeply missed by his family and friends. His legacy of service, love, faith, and humor lives on through his large and loving family.