John L. King
1936-2015
John L. King, passed away peacefully at his home in Houston on Saturday, the 8th of August 2015, at the age of 79. He was born in Yuma, Arizona on the 2nd of May 1936, to the late Elbert E. and Wilma Brashear King. John was raised in Seymour, Texas, about twenty-five miles south of Vernon. In 1950 the Kings moved to Munday where they owned Cobb’s Department Store and in 1953 moved to Lubbock where John finished high school.
Mr. King graduated with a bachelor degree from Texas Technological College in 1959 and received his law degree from the University of Texas in 1962. Upon graduating from law school, he became a Briefing Attorney to the Honorable Meade F. Griffin of the Texas Supreme Court and served from 1962-1963. John began his legal career as inhouse counsel and corporate secretary to Halliburton. He left Halliburton in 1964 to enter the private practice of law in what later became Rochelle, King and Balzersen, a boutique bankruptcy firm in Dallas, Texas. John was an accomplished and esteemed bankruptcy lawyer, representing large Chapter 11 debtors, secured creditors, and trustees. In August of 1985, he joined the firm of Fulbright & Jaworski (now Norton Rose Fulbright) in Houston as the head of their bankruptcy section until his retirement in 1990. John was involved in most of the important corporate reorganizations in Texas from the 1960s until his retirement. John’s former law partners remember him with affection and pleasure. He was a wise counsellor, an effective advocate, and a trusted comrade. His quiet, wry sense of humor brought smiles to many faces.
John was preceded in death by his only son, David Marshall King. David is survived by his spouse John J. Frishkopf of Boston.
John King’s family wishes to thank his medical team who cared for him at home, including Susan Altemus RN and Rebecca Clearman MD of Personal Physician Group, as well as Sid Gerber & Associates and the caregivers Jasmine Mostiller, Gilberto Sanchez, and Aida Nieves.
A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 28th of August 2015, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where Dr. Linda Christians, Executive Pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent grand foyer.
Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Magnolia Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel Street, Ste. 200, Newton, MA 02458 or online at www.braintumor.org