HAMPTON — Joseph Rufus “Joe” King, 83, died Monday, April 12, 2021. He was the youngest of five children born to Margaret and John King and a lifelong resident of Hampton.
Joe was known to family and friends as Putty or Putty Red. His family lived in the Garden City area of Hampton and attended Phenix High School, where he excelled in football.
He continued his football career at Norfolk State. Joe was an entrepreneur from his early childhood and learned the value of hard work and honesty from his Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary, with whom he lived for several years as a young child. During the Vietnam era he was drafted. He subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he quickly advanced through the ranks. He received a commission, attended Officers Candidate School, and eventually retired as a lieutenant colonel after 24 years of combined active and reserve service.
Following his active duty in the U.S. Army, he operated Import Auto King and was active in the political life of Hampton. He served on the Hampton School Board and was a champion for disabled and handicapped children, a cause dear to his heart due to the fact that his daughter, Candace, was born with cerebral palsy. Ever the optimist, he ran unsuccessful campaigns for City Council and the House of Delegates. One of his proudest accomplishments was assisting his dear friend, Mary Christian, in her successful campaign to be elected the first African American female delegate from Hampton.
Uncle Putty was loved and looked up to by his many nieces and nephews and is remembered especially by some of his nephews for giving them their first jobs. Joe always had great vision, but maybe not so much follow through, often leaving the details to others. He never lacked for confidence in what he could accomplish.
Joe’s beloved daughter, Candace preceded him in death in August 2020.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Carey; children, Martin King, Janelle Sokolowich (Michael), Letitia Branch (Eric) and Brian Bowers (Carmen); sister, Joan Evans; mother of his daughters, Lillian Smith; nine grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., Sunday, April 18, at Weymouth Funeral Home. Funeral services, with Military Honors, will immediately follow visitation at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Citizens Unit of the Boys & Girls Club of Virginia Peninsula, 1815 Shell Road, Hampton, VA 23661.
Share online condolences with the family at Weymouth Funeral Home.
