Bobby Joe King

Bobby Joe King passed away on October 8, 2018, in a Fort Worth hospital. Funeral service: 2p.m., Friday, October 12, 2018 at Victory Baptist Church with interment to follow in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation: 6-8 p.m., Thursday at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel.
Bobby (Bob) was the middle child born to Paschal and Inez King on March 5, 1933 on the old King Farm in Authon, Texas, northwest of Weatherford. As young boys, Bobby and his younger brother, Weldon, had their own guns starting at a young age and developed an affinity for hunting; after riding the bus home each day from Garner Schools, they ran a trap line after they milked the cows. Bobby and his brother also built a bucking chute in the corral, adjacent to the pasture. After afternoon chores were completed, their dad would let them try to ride the steers, and this boyhood pastime sparked the talent and passion Bobby had for rodeo, which led to him becoming a professional bareback and bull rider in the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA) in the 1950s. Bobby graduated from Weatherford High School in 1949 and then served in the United States Naval Reserve for eight years. After meeting Virginia Peoples, they married on October 19, 1952 – and were happily married for nearly 65 years. He then began working for Texas Electric Service Company (which later became TXU) in Fort Worth in 1953, where he retired 40 years later. He truly enjoyed his career and his many work friends.
Bobby and Virginia had four children: Vicki (deceased as an infant); Pam, Tom, and Kim. As a family, they took lots of summer vacations across the country. Bobby and Virginia were active members of Victory Baptist Church for many years. Bobby was always active and loved to hunt, fish – and watch westerns in later life! And he enjoyed watching all kinds of sports, especially football. Even as his health began declining, Bobby maintained a positive attitude almost all the time – and his family and friends will always remember how he uttered “Super!” “Fantastic!” and “jim-dandy!” when describing either how he was doing – or many other situations in life. Bobby was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia (2017); his parents; his sister, Betty; and his daughter, Vicki. Bobby greatly loved his family, and they loved him immensely! He is survived by his children, Pam King, and her husband, Ralph; Tom King, and his wife, Shelly; Kim Barrett, and her husband, Richard; four grandchildren: Bryan Barrett, and his wife, Charla; Logan Barrett, and his wife, Elise; Kylie King; and Kierston King; and three great-grandchildren: Blakelyn Barrett, Brax Barrett; and Harper Barrett; his brother, Weldon, and his wife Anne; as well as several cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends.