Obituary of Roy Dale King

It was just after midnight in Canton TX, on June 28, 1955, that Roy Dale King made his debut as the son of Meinard LeRoy and Lenora King. This little family of 3 made their home in Dallas six weeks after his birth. Even during childhood Dale had a propensity of drawing himself into the world of how things work. His father was a Master Machinist so there was plenty of mechanical “candy” to devour at his fingertips. Being an only child was quite lonely for Dale, but that changed when he was about 9 years old and met his life long friend and “brother“ Richard Rosebrock. Life moved on, as it tends to, and Dale had an opportunity to join Boy Scouts at the age of 12 and his Dad, LeRoy, enjoyed being roped into Scouts as well. He climbed up the ranks and achieved Scouting’s highest rank and honor, Eagle Scout. Dale graduated from David W. Carter High School in the Class of 1973. He would tell you his greatest and most important experience came in the spring of 1972. At the age of 16, Dale was visited by a couple of fellows who pointed out his need for Jesus. Believing and knowing he was a sinner, Dale accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior that evening. The following Sunday he was baptized and joined, Brook Hollow Baptist Church of DeSoto, TX. He was active in his Youth Group there. Following graduation he spent two years at Mountain View College as a student and worked full time. As a single young man, Dale continued to be a faithful church member. He volunteered his time helping to fix the church buses and be a driver to pick up children on Sunday mornings as well as many a church camp, over a span of more than 25 years, something he treasured. Being the most handsome and eligible bachelor at Brook Hollow Baptist, many an invitation came his way for Sunday dinner. It was the joy of a little red haired girl named Melinda West, that accepted his proposal of marriage. They were married August 29, 1981. That pair was blessed with 8 children, 3 daughters and 5 sons. Dale enjoyed such a vast amount of interests as he camped, taught sailing, fished, he was an award winning shooter, flew sail planes joining the local soaring club, rock climbing, swimming, cliff diving, hiking, cooking, grilling, driving on the open road, playing guitar, singing, photography, he loved many a stray and took home broken animals to mend them, ham radio, putt putt golf, archery, tomahawks, leather work, karate, enjoyed westerns and action movies and loving pop corn, bowling, reinventing the wheel, reading technical books, and loved cars, cars, cars. He was the most humble, hardworking man, always putting his wife and family ahead of his own needs. Many a time he continued to wear a threadbare shirt and work with holes in his shoes so his children did not have to suffer. Dale would work 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to provide for his family. He worked with excellence, taking and teaching each of his children not only to finish to completion, but also when given partial materials or less than satisfactory parts you scavenge or purchase what you need out of your own pocket. Customers loved him, literally, as he was asked for by name. Many a client or customer enjoyed a gentle word and smile and often when he saw the need an invitation for prayer was offered. Dale King’s greatest delight was being a Dad and a Gunpa. His hugs and his sugars were ready at a moment’s notice. He walked each of his sons through Boy Scouts and burst with pride as all 5 sons followed him and became Eagle Scouts. Each of his three daughters knew that their Dad was the greatest protector and the first one they called. Dale’s wife never had to call a repairman, she knew implicitly that she was protected at all times from danger, and she was loved and cherished. On August 22, 2021 Dale King took in his last breath on this earthly realm and exhaled on Heaven’s shores. He was preceded in death by his father LeRoy and his mother Lenora. Left to mourn his passing is his loving wife of 40 years, Melinda, his daughter Kathleen, his son Dustin and wife Krystal, his son Riley and wife Lillian, his son Schyler, his daughter Megan and husband Tyler Epstein, his daughter Callie, his son Samuel, and last but not least his son Garrett, the grandchildren who loved him so are Bryson, Mariah, Adalyn, Liam, Sadie, Fiona, Gideon, and baby Joseph “Jack-Jack. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 2PM Hillcrest Baptist Church 265 W. Pleasant Run Rd. Cedar Hill, TX 75104