Rawls (RW) Woodrow King, Jr.

Rawls Woodrow (RW) King, Jr. of Groesbeck passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at the age of 76.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 in the Mary Helen Nance Community Center located at 301 E. 8^th St. in Thornton, with Pastor Steve Nance officiating.  A private family graveside will follow at Thornton City Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are Michael McGilvray, Ricky McCoy, John Banks Campbell, and his nephews- Cap Prince, J.J. King, Richard King, Joe Gomez and Brandon Truett.

Rawls, also known as RW or Junior, was born to Agnes and Rawls Woodrow King, Sr. on April 2, 1944.  He grew up and attended school in Thornton through his junior year.   He played 6-man football in Thornton, and when they moved to Groesbeck High, the guys were known as the Thornton Thugs.  Rawls graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1963.    

Rawls worked at his father’s business - R.W. King Appliance Company in Thornton, which later relocated to Groesbeck.  Rawls and his brothers, Jon and Charlie, operated King’s Appliances, which was in business for 59 years.   Rawls was a member of the Thornton United Methodist Church in Thornton.

Rawls and Bobbie Jean were united in marriage on December 1, 1983. They enjoyed life, with many many happy hours together and with family and friends.   In his free time, Rawls enjoyed traveling with Bobbie Jean, including trips to Oklahoma, Livingston, and Bossier City.   They took  cruises all over the world, with their first and biggest cruise with Tom and Martha Longbotham to Turkey and Greece.  Rawls and Bobbie Jean loved to dance the night away, whether the polka or jitterbug, or whatever the music called for.   There was a period of time when he liked playing volleyball with a group at the Ben Hur gym. 

Rawls was a perfectionist about his yard and garden, and also enjoyed sitting with his binoculars looking at the birds on the pond and the cattle.  He loved eating pounds of shrimp at the “Crystal Ball” in Dallas with his family.   There were cookouts at the house, including fishing in his tank, with family and friends.  He loved attending and watching Keith and Kristi’s activities, and this continued with his grandchildren, Kailey and Colton, and carried on with his great nieces and nephews prior to his illness.  “Pa” was always at ballgames, school programs, county shows, and other activities.   

He was preceded in death by his parents and sons Keith King and Bradley Swick.

He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Jean King; daughter, Kristi King Young and husband Robert; Brian and Lisa Swick; and Susan Swick; along with grandchildren Kailey and Zack Isbell, Colton Swick and Aiden Young. He is also survived by his siblings, Charlie and wife Cathy King, Jon and wife Ladena King, and Maryanne Cox as well as many nieces and nephews and many other extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Thornton Methodist Church at PO Box 382, Thornton, TX 76687.