Virgil Lee “Bud” King

Virgil Lee “Bud” King, age 89, went to his eternal home on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at Vidant Edgecombe Hospital in Tarboro.

Bud was born in Edgecombe County, NC to the late Leroy and Selma Manning King.  He ran Kings Grocery from 1964 until 1988 and loved growing vegetables in his garden, mostly to give away.  He worked the sawmill with his father as a youth before going into the military and served as a sharpshooter in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.  Bud took great pride in working with his hands and loved carving out dough bowls from tupelo wood from the swamp.  He enjoyed running a chainsaw to “clean up” and later in life enjoyed helping with the Hobgood Players and being “Grandpa” in the Hee Haw shows.  Bud was one of the founding members of the Hobgood Volunteer Fire Department and attended Hobgood United Methodist Church.  He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

In addition to his parents Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Rogers King; his brothers, Doodle King, Ed King, and Alvin King; and his sisters, Ellen Whitfield, Mary Lou Barclay, Phoebe Bagan, Doris Leonard, Helen Abbott, and Barbara Smith.

He is survived by his daughter, Lynn King Boyd and husband Greg of Whitakers; his grandchildren, Kayla Boyd Hale and husband Michael of Grimesland and Seth Boyd of Nashville; his great-granddaughter, Aubrey Kate Hale; his brother, Jerry King of Greenville; his sisters-in-law, Linda Nell Craft and Lou King; his brothers-in-law, Ronnie Rogers and Randy Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at Letchworth-Sykes Funeral Service in Scotland Neck.

A celebration of life graveside service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at Hobgood Cemetery in Hobgood, with Rev. Ron Elkins and Pastor Tommy King presiding.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Hobgood Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 218, Hobgood, NC 27843 or online by clicking here; or to Hobgood United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 67, Hobgood, NC 27843, or online by clicking here.

Letchworth-Sykes Funeral Service in Scotland Neck is handling the arrangements for the King family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting letchworthsykesfs.com.