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Submitted: 6/13/23 • Approved: 6/20/23 • Last Updated: 6/23/23 • R430301-G0-S3
March 5, 1924 - January 15, 2012
Lily Irene King went home to be with the Lord and rejoin her sweetheart and husband of 67 years, Rev. Robert S. King, Jr. on January 15, 2012, in Lexington, Kentucky. A memorial to honor her life will be held at Lafayette First Assembly Church, 3555 Verot School Road, Youngsville, LA on Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be Friday, January 20, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Delhomme Funeral Home at 1011 Bertrand Drive in Lafayette, LA and will continue Saturday morning at Lafayette First Assembly from 9 a.m. until service time. Rev. Tommy Faulk of Lafayette First Assembly will officiate. She was born in Houston, TX, on March 5, 1924 to Winford and Nell Willborg, who owned and operated Willborg's Steam Laundry there. At 16, she graduated from Reagan High School in her hometown and attended Abilene Christian College. From the age of 2, she loved to dance and was trained in tap, ballroom dance, ballet and acrobatics, regularly performing in theaters. While worshiping at the Little Log Church in Houston (now Braeswood Assembly of God) she made a life-altering decision to serve Jesus Christ which she described as being 'more thrilling than the glittering costumes, audience applause and bright lights of the performance stage.' As a teenager, rather than accepting her dance instructor's invitation to move to Hollywood, CA to pursue stardom with her dance partner, Johnnie Lucille Collier (later known as Ann Miller), she began attending church youth rallies with her new beau, Robert S. King, Jr. They were married in Houston, TX in 1941, where their first 2 children, Ruth and Robert, were born. Shortly after serving his country in World War II, when her husband answered the Lord's call to the ministry, she accepted the vocation of preacher's wife which she faithfully fulfilled at his side. Already an involved mother and devoted wife, she contributed to their ministerial work in every imaginable way ' visiting the sick, teaching Sunday School class, singing in the choir, leading the women's missions group, and even taking piano lessons when their church needed a pianist. In 1952 they moved to Lafayette, LA where their daughter, Rachel, was born and where she helped her husband pioneer the first Pentecostal church there -- now known as Lafayette First Assembly. She graciously opened their home on Brookside Drive for church services before permanent quarters were established. She was a gifted teacher, mentor and role model. Teaching a group of ministers' wives in 1988, she said 'I think one of our main job responsibilities as pastors' wives is to be an example to the church members and, yes, to the community. When you do business in your city, you are known as the pastor's wife of the Assembly of God Church. You live in a fishbowl. Make your members proud to introduce you to their families, friends and fellow workers -- 'This is my pastor's wife'. Let people see Jesus in you and feel the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.' In over 58 years of residency in Acadiana, she assumed many positions of leadership in the community, holding various posts in school and civic organizations. She was captivated by beautiful flowers, a passion she shared with her mother who was a gifted gardener. An avid traveler whether for pleasure or in His service, she and her husband crisscrossed the U.S., cruised Alaska, frequented the Holy Land, visited her ancestors in Sweden, and explored many parts of Europe, South and Central America. Following retirement in 1994, she and her husband spent several years living near their children, Ruth and Bobby in Texas, until relocating back to Lafayette. In 2008, they moved to Lexington, Kentucky to be near their daughter, Rachel, where they were sojourners until God called them Home. In the prime of her life, as well as in the waning years, her radiant smile, quick wit and dancing blue eyes captured hearts. She is in Heaven with 3 of her greatest loves ' her Savior, her Sweetheart and her Mother. She is survived by her brother, Oscar Ollie Willborg of Mena, AR, her three children, Ruth Conner and her husband Michael of Mesquite, Texas; Robert W. King, Sr. and his wife Linda of Lafayette, LA; Rachel King and her partner, Gloria Hansen of Lexington, KY; 4 grandchildren, Melaynee DeVore, LaDonna DeVore, Tiffany King and her husband, Michael, and Robert W. King, Jr., and his wife, Elizabeth; 4 great grandchildren, Robert King, Jessica King, Nevada King and his wife, Kim, Sierra King and Montana King; and a great great granddaughter, Taytem Elizabeth King. Lily Irene King was preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. King, Jr., her parents, Winford and Nell Willborg, and her sister, Joy Willborg. Active Pallbearers will be Ronnie Rue, Bobby Cobb, Chris VanWay, Richard Goff, Ralph Peters and Barry Thompson. Honorary Pallbearers will be J. P. Van Way, Fred Rhodes, Martha Goff, Melvin O'Dell, Lynda O'Dell and Crystal Calder. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Lafayette First Assembly (lafayettefirst.com), Hospice of the Bluegrass (hospicebg.org) or the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).
Contributed on 6/13/23 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 430301