Philip Woodson King, Jr.

Philip Woodson King, Jr. (May 19, 1918 - October 3, 2008), native of Morrison, TN, graduate of the University of Tennessee, distinguished sailor in the U.S. Navy during WWII, UT Agricultural Extension Service County Agent, farmer and conservationist, lifelong member of the Church of Christ where he faithfully served as an elder, community activist in Ruritan and the Lions Club, and friend to all he knew, died at River Park Hospital on Friday, October 3, 2008. Survivors include his wife, Ellen Mae Safley King of Morrison; children: John Drew King and wife Lill of McMinnville, Minnie Jane King of Cookeville, Ellen Kaye Gentry and husband David of Farragut, Johnny Sue Duke and husband Nile of Plano, TX, and Philip Woodson King III and wife Sharron Sue of Knoxville; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip Woodson King and wife Susie St. John King; by his daughter, Martha Jo King Howell, and by his sisters: Martha Catherine Hall of Chandler Arizona, Hazel Woodson Stubblefield of Tullahoma, Johnnie Lee King (who died as a young child); Mary Ruth Womack of Nashville and Tennie Carolyn Enkema Chapo of Johnson City, TN. Woodson (as he was known) went off to college in the late 1930s and graduated in animal husbandry at the University of Tennessee's Department of Agriculture. After college and after marrying his sweetheart from Irving College, Ellen Mae Safley, he accepted a commission in the United States Navy during WW II, where he served on the U.S.S. Core, a baby flattop aircraft carrier in the north Atlantic Ocean and later in the Pacific. After distinguished service in the Navy, where he attained the rank of lieutenant, he took a job in Centerville, TN, as agricultural county agent. Then, in 1951 he returned to the farm on which he grew up to help his father and mother tend the farm. He was known far and wide as a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle at Kingland Farms. Later he worked at Arnold Engineering Development Center from where he retired in 1981 to the farm he loved so much. His later years were devoted to oversight of the farm, forest management, traveling, being a good Democrat and sitting on the front porch chatting with family, neighbors and friends. He loved his family and friends and was, in turn, beloved. He had a philosophy of life that sustained his good humor throughout his days. He will be missed greatly, but cherished in memory, by his family and all who knew him. His family will receive friends at High's Funeral Home in McMinnville, Tennessee, on Sunday, October 5, from 4:00 until 9:00 p.m. and on Monday at the Morrison Church of Christ from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. A celebration of Woodson's life will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Monday at the church, with burial following in the Morrison Cemetery at sunset with military honors.