Dr. Mitchell Campbell King Jr., 96: Injured on Normandy Beach on D-Day

Dr. Mitchell Campbell King, Jr., age 96, passed away peacefully at his care facility in Buckhead Tuesday Dec. 3, 2013 of natural causes.

Born Aug. 10, 1917 at his family's home in Atlanta, his parents were Mitchell Campbell King, Sr. (Charleston, SC) and Ruby Jeanette Swift (Atlanta). He was married to Anne Preston Farrior of Tampa, Florida in 1952. They were married 50 years and she preceded him in death in 2001.

Dr. King was a descendant of a long line of The Lees of Virginia and The Campbells of Argyll, Scotland.

He grew up in several historic homes in Atlanta. His first home was on 1130 Peachtree then moving to 2620 Habersham. He also spent a great deal of time at his maternal grandparents (Lena Burckhardt Swift-Huntley) home at 1459 Peachtree Street at the junction of Peachtree and West Peachtree (Pershing Point). His grandfather, Charles Thomas Swift founded the S.S.S. Tonic Company. His summers were predominately spent at his aunt and uncles (Christopher and Mary B. Memminger) summer home in Flat Rock, NC, known as Crail Farm. It is now the Carl Sandberg Home.

He attended Marist College until 1932 then graduated from Boys High in 1935. He did extensive research and post graduate work abroad in Egyptology and ancient history, acquiring five earned degrees including two doctorates. In 1941 Dr. King volunteered with the USNR after graduating from UGA School of Law and served until 1946. He was retired from combat injuries sustained in the Normandy Beach landings on D-day, June, 1944 in World War II where he was hit by a German sniper as he came onto the beach. Exploding shrapnel embedded his torso, fracturing his skull, knocking him unconscious on the beach for hours. He was awarded the Purple Heart and given an Honorable Discharge. He was the heavyweight boxing champion of the South Atlantic Fleet while serving.

After the war, Dr. King entered the private practice of civil law and continued until joining the Trust Department of the Trust Company of Georgia in 1954. In 1959 he left the Trust Company to become a special lecturer in Egyptology at Emory University Museum (Carlos Museum) for 4 years to later become a private full time historical researcher/lecturer and collector of old weaponry. He was the assistant to Franklin Garrett at The Atlanta Historical Society from 1967-1970. He was a strong advocate for Maritime power. He returned to France in 1995 to attend the 50th anniversary of D-day and received the French Decoration of "Liberte' Diex Aie."

Always an avid advocate of family participation, Dr. King had frequently taken his family on numerous domestic and foreign journeys in pursuit of his acquisitions and administrative duties. He made extended passages on Egypt's beguiling Nile River and into the experimental state farms in the Nile Delta, Alexandria and Suez. His most unusual ventures were to Macu Picchu, the Galapagos Island, China and the Amazon. In his final earthly journey, he is to rest beside his precious wife in the columbarium of St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island, SC. He and his wife retired to Hilton Head in the early 1980s where they remained until she passed away.

He is survived by three daughters, Jeannette Finley Flom King of Tampa, FL; Kathleen Spotwood King Goodfriend of Portland, OR; Lee Campbell King of Atlanta, GA; 4 grandchildren, Taylor King Flom, Chambler Rex Flom, Raela Ann King Goodfriend and Rebecca Memminger Goodfriend.

In lieu of flowers, if so desired, a contribution may be sent to the donor's favorite charity or the following entities:

• The Clan Campbell Society of North America
• Chi Phi Fraternity (UGA Chapter)
• Rotary International (Van Landingham)

Dr. King was a member of Rotary International, Piedmont Driving Club Nine-o-Clocks, Stephen Ministry, St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Hilton Head, SC, Navy League, life member of Clan Campbell Society, American Society of International Law, Boy Scout (Troop 10, Fulton County), Episcopal Lay Reader for St. Philips Cathedral, Phi Kappa Phi Legal Fraternity, Lees of Virginia, The Capital City Club, University Yacht Club.

The family wants to thank the staff at Sunrise of Buckhead for all their love and support for Dr. King this past year.

A memorial service will be at the Cathedral of St. Philip in the Mikell Chapel, 2744 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Ga 30305 (404)365-1000 at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.