Richard Hearn King

Richard Hearn King, 79, passed away May 30, 2022, at Atrium Health, with his family by his side. He was born in Charlotte, the son of the late Murlan C. King and late Audrey H. King and was a 1961 graduate of Harding High School and the Durham Barber institute, following in his father and grandfather's footsteps.

Richard owned and operated King's Barber and Styling Shop on Hovis Road in NW Charlotte. He took a real interest in his customers and cared about what was going on in their lives . . . he really loved talking to people. He would have never retired in 2014 but was diagnosed with a very rare terminal cancer. He said he was not going to go home and sit in a rocking chair waiting to die. We will never forget looking outside one day and seeing him with a portable chemo pack pumping chemo into a port in his neck over one shoulder and a 25-pound leaf blower strapped on his back.

Richard was a longtime NASCAR fan and worked at the first race of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was always a big fan of Richard Petty and had a prized autographed poster that said, “To Richard King from King Richard”. He loved going to the beach and fishing, but cutting his grass was what he loved to do the most. He always joked that he would be happy if he just fell over dead while riding his mower.

Richard was married for 56 years to the love of his life and best friend, Joan Ferguson King. He is survived by Joan; his daughter Kimberly King Fox; and two grandsons, Eric Fox and Mark Fox.

Richard loved the Lord and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. He always said he hoped he would live long enough to see his new church built . . . he never thought that he would, but he did.

A private family graveside service, to celebrate Richard's life, was held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, Charlotte. Memorial donations may be sent to Calvary Baptist Church, 2727 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, Charlotte NC 28214.

Condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home of Mount Holly is caring for the King family.

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