MANSFIELD -- An American flag was raised Thursday in front of the Richland County Administration Building to honor deceased Mansfield Army veteran Robert V. King.
That flag replaced one that had flown for 21 days in honor of Navy veteran Melvin Ernest Mess.
King, born Sept. 4, 1924, in Brinkhaven, lived most of his life in Mansfield. He left Mansfield Senior High School early in order to serve his country.
He served in the Army as a private first class from April 17, 1943, to Nov. 2, 1945. King was a truck driver for Battery B, 29th Field Artillery Battalion. He served in Normandy, northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe during World War II.
After the war, he married Alice R. (Shade) King. They spent the next 55 years together until his death March 12, 2002.
Besides his wife he is survived by a son, James D.; a grandson he helped raise, Eddie Cole; and two daughters, Judy Barabani and Patti Cole, all of Mansfield. There are also six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers and two sisters.
King owned and operated AAA-1 Vending until he retired in 1986.
He was a member of Moose Lodge 341; the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and Teamsters Post 16.
His flag is being donated by his daughter, Judy Barabani. The flag program is sponsored by the Joint Veterans Council of Richland County.
All flags fly 21 days and are returned to the donors. The veteran's name is added to a plaque in the foyer of the Richland County Administration Building.
To donate a flag, call Bruce Phipps at 419-524-5844 after work hours.
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