Dr. Walter “Bill” Hughey King, Jr. of Lookout Mountain, Georgia passed away peacefully on May 25, 2022. Bill was born to Sarah and Walter Hughey King Sr. at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville on February 13, 1942. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy for junior high school and graduated high school from Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon before heading off to Vanderbilt University. He graduated college from M.T.S.U. and went on to attend the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Medical School. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.
Bill practiced as an orthopedic surgeon in Chattanooga for over 35 years. Most of those years were spent at Parkridge Medical Center. Their caring and thoughtful staff provided a home away from home both during and after he stopped practicing. Throughout his many years in practice, Bill gave back to the community in innumerable ways. He served in many medical leadership roles at the hospitals where he practiced. He was an assistant professor of medicine at UT Chattanooga and volunteered for years at the Boehm Birth Defects Center. In addition to numerous professional organizations, he was a member of The Society of the Cincinnati, and a founding member of the Stones River Charter of the National Society of Sons of the American Revolution. He also served in the Army Reserves.
At 6’8” tall Bill was a towering figure with an engaging personality and a lively wit. His larger-than-life size and personality led friends and family alike to affectionately call him “Biggun”. So much so, there was in fact discussion whether to refer to him as “Bill” or “Biggun” in this obituary.
Biggun lived large: big houses, big meals, big drinks, big cars, big farms, big horses, big fun. Most importantly he had a big heart. Though his sheer size alone could be intimidating and his dry sense of humor could take people off guard, it wouldn’t take anyone long to realize he was thoughtful, kind, and caring. He dearly loved his family and spending all the time he could with them. He was a devoted son, father and grandfather.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents and son Walter Hughey King, III. He is survived by siblings Carmine King Jordan (Charlie), Newton Dudley King (Cynthia), Sallie King Norton (William), and their families; children, Cannon King (Catherine), Mollie King, Collier King (Marian), and Hamilton King (Amber), and grandchildren Caroline King, Cannon A. King, Wilson King, Hamilton King, Jr., Georgia King and Hedges King.
Visitation will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 211 Franklin Rd, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350 at 11:30 Saturday June the 4th. The funeral service will be held after the visitation at 12:30.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Exceptional Foundation 1616 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 (https://www.exceptionalfoundation.org/donate ) or the The Walter E Boehm Birth Defects Center Inc. 975 E 3rd St, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403-2173 (https://www.boehmbdc.com )
You may share condolences to the King family at www.heritagechattanooga.com
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Rd.