William T. “Bill” King, MD, age 87, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at the University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus. He was born on August 1, 1935 in Fairbury, Neb. by Robert E. King, Sr. and Helen (Throop) King. He married Mary Ella Miller on June 28, 1959 in Lawrence, Kan. She passed away in her loving care on June 11, 2011.
A resident of Great Bend for nearly 60 years, Dr. King was Chief of Staff and Gynecologist at Central Kansas Medical Center; as well as the Barton County Deputy Medical Examiner. During her 30 years of OB/GYN practice, Dr. King delivered 3,699 babies and performed 4,100 surgeries.
Dr. King was an Eagle Scout and a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he was deacon, elder, and treasurer. He and Mary served as national captains for Presbyterian Seamen and mentored many sailors in mission work camps. In 1996, they served 10 weeks as medical missionaries in Pakistan.
Dr. King was very active in the community. He was a member of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, the Great Bend Country Club, and the Barton County Department of Health Health Advisory Council. He has served on the boards of Central Kansas Court Appointed Special Advocates, Great Bend Library and Barton County Historical Society. He also served as district governor of Rotary District No. 5670, president and secretary of Rotary of Great Bend and chaplain of the Sons of the American Revolution Prairie Minutemen chapter.
Dr. King enjoyed golfing, snow skiing, cheering on the Jayhawks, traveling to all seven continents of the world, and sharing with his family, colleagues and friends. He especially enjoyed the family ski Christmases in Winter Park, Colo. He held his family very close to his heart and was very proud of them all. His favorite title was “Grandfather King”.
Survivors include her children, Carolee Hoffman and husband Scott of Basehor, Russell King, MD and wife Susan Clevenger of Overland Park, Pamela Tracy and husband Kenny of Great Bend, and Roberta King, PhD. and husband Louis Soloff of Narragansett, RI; two brothers, Bob King, Jr. of Washington, Kan. and Rick King of Sellersburg, Ind.; six grandchildren, Justin Tracy (Nicole), Katlyn Tracy (Josh Wiley), Ryan King, Evan King, Robin King, Curtis Soloff; five great-grandchildren, Jack, Logan and Ella Tracy, and Logan and Finley Wiley; and her best friend, Margie Nairn of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Maria.
Visiting will be from noon to 8pm, Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at the Bryant Funeral Home, with family to receive friends from 6pm to 8pm. The memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church in Great Bend, with Pastor Dick Ogle presiding. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 2, 2023, in the Acacia Garden of Memorial Park Cemetery, 1517 E 15th St., Lawrence, KS 66044. The memorials have been awarded to the Dr. Bill King Foundation for Healthcare at the Barton Community College, by Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences can be sent and the notice displayed at www.bryantfh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
The Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Rd
Big Bend, KS. 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 29, 2023
