CHUCK KING FUHS '47

King, Charles "Chuck" of Palm Desert passed away on February 20, 2007 after a nine month battle with melanoma. He was born to Fred and Ella King in Huntsville, Arkansas, but moved to Southern California as an infant. He grew up in and around Fullerton, attending Fullerton High School and Fullerton Junior College before earning a baseball scholarship to Fresno State University. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at FSU and graduated with a business degree in 1953. After serving in the Army for two years - and turning down offers to play professional baseball - he joined Chrysler Corporation in 1955. That was the beginning of an illustrious automotive career. He served in a series of assignments with Chrysler/Dodge that led him to Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco and Australia. After returning from Australia in 1972, he joined Nissan Motor Corporation in Gardena. He played a key part in the company's stateside growth, with sales more than tripling under his directorship. He retired from Nissan as the top ranking American executive in 1987. He married his wife, Marilyn, in 1958, just three months after meeting on a blind date. They enjoyed the extensive travels that came as part of Chuck's career and the numerous friends made along the way. After retirement, Chuck spent many hours cultivating friendships on and off the golf course at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert. He and Marilyn also spent time in Northern California at Lake Almanor. A loyal friend and family man, Chuck's sense of humor endeared him to all, including the hospice workers who helped care for him. He is survived by his wife; son, Trent King of Diamond Bar; daughter, Toni Galloro of Long Beach; two sisters, Katherine Smith of Eugene, OR and Joanne Tobey of Fullerton; two brothers, Kenneth King of Huntsville, AR and Fred King of Las Vegas, NV and three grandchildren, Max, Mia, and Sam Galloro. A private service will be held in Fullerton. In lieu of flowers, donations many be made in Chuck's memory to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 23704-5 El Toro Rd., #206, Lake Forest, CA 92630 or the Visiting Nurse Association, 42-600 Cook St., Suite 202, Palm Desert, CA 92211. FitzHenry Funeral Home, Palm Desert Published in the Orange County Register on 2/23/2007.
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