Fritz King

Graveside services are scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 8, at Woodbine Cemetery for Fritz Joe King of Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. King, 82, died Monday, October 6, 2008 at his home. Larry Branch will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Nubbin Crouch, Gary Ryan, Jim Artrip, Roy Haynes, Buddy Sheilds, and other close friends. Mr. King was born August 16, 1926 in Weleetka, Oklahoma; the son of John Preston and Maybelle Graham Preston. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. He came to Artesia in 1959 from Oklahoma. On October 22, 1966 he was married to Doris Branch in Juarez, Mexico. He was a plumber for Crouch Plumbing before he became self-employed and retiring in 1990. Fritz was a member of the Hermosa Drive Baptist Church and he loved to sit on the patio swing and watch the grandkids play. Fritz was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. Survivors include his wife Doris King of the family home; daughters Annette Nickles of Choctaw, Oklahoma, Susan Collins of Artesia, and Connie Funk and husband Clay of Sweeney, Texas; son Joel King and wife J.J. of Artesia; brothers-in-law Bobby A. Branch of Artesia, and Larry Branch and wife Kay of Wolfforth, Texas; grandchildren Paige Hammond, Whitney Gabaldon and husband Ross, Dylan Kincaid, Laurence Funk, Alex Nickles, Demorie King, Presley Stark, Garrett King, Beau King, and Layken King; great-grandchildren Noah McNeil, Evin and Ethan Hammond, Kristian, Kaiden, Kilynn, and Jordis Galbaldon, Ashton Funk, Carter and Bellea Nickles; and numerous nieces and nephews.