Dr. Thomas Bailey King, Jr., DDS, MS
May 22, 1926 – February 19, 2020
Dr. Thomas Bailey King, Jr., DDS, MS, of Bryan, Texas, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at the age of 93. His parents, his sister Norma Newton, and his wife of 49 years, Evelyn King, preceded Tom in death. He is survived by son Charles and his wife Kathy and their children Joshua, Brandon, and Kyle; his son David and his wife Jessica and their children Javier, Josh, and Jacqueline; his niece Dianne Brockette and husband Marion; his nephew Richard Newton and wife Diane; and other relatives and friends.
Dr. Tom B. King was born to Thomas Bailey King, Sr., and Fay Wilcher King, in Lancaster, Texas, on May 22, 1926. He grew up and attended school in Waxahachie, Texas, where he graduated in 1943. Following graduation, Tom joined the United States Navy and served in the medical corps from 1944 to 1945 during WWII. He graduated from Baylor University in 1948 and Baylor Dental School in 1951. Tom practiced general dentistry with Dr. H.W. Ritchey in Bryan from 1951–1957. He left Bryan to specialize in orthodontics in Saint Louis, MO and returned to Bryan in 1959 where he practiced his specialty until he retired in 1993.
Dr. King was active in his profession and his community. He taught at the University of Texas Orthodontic School in Houston for 29 years. Dr. King was also a member of the Texas Tweed Foundation since its inception, and the American Association of Orthodontics. He served on the Bryan School Board, Bryan Library Board, Bryan Rotary Club, St. Joseph Hospital Board, MSC OPAS Founding Board, Young Life, Bryan North Little League, the Historic Landmark Commission, Brazos Valley Shriner’s Club, Mason’s Club, Rotary Club, and volunteered at the George Bush Library. Dr. King was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bryan for 69 years where he was a deacon, taught a youth Sunday school class, and attended the Business Men’s Bible Class. He was also a member of the Baptist Medical-Dental Fellowship, where he served on many foreign mission trips. In 2019, he was awarded the Jefferson Award at the George Bush Library for his many years of community service.
Tom greatly loved the Lord, his family, his work, his church, his community, and his many friends. He was a true gentleman and a Godly man of great integrity and character. Tom was joyful, kind, and a loyal friend. He was a person that made every situation that he encountered better than when he found it. Tom was a man who always thought of others before himself and believed it is better to give than to receive.
A visitation will be held at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home in Bryan, from 4-7 pm, Monday, February 24, 2020. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, February 25, 2020, at the First Baptist Church of Bryan. A reception will be held following the service in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will be at 2:00 pm at Rest-Ever Memorial Park Cemetery in Bryan. Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers, Bryan-College Station.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Bryan Building Fund or the Business Men’s Bible Class at 3100 Cambridge Dr., Bryan, TX, 77802.
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com
He was a great man. He enjoyed hunting, helping out at work weekends at the deer lease.
My condolences to David, Jessica, and all the family on the loss of your dad. May God’s peace be with you at this time and always. You will meet again. In the meantime, I’m glad your dad enjoyed a long life and that you were able to take several fun trips together.
Take care!
What a great man he was I remember working for him he was a great boss he taught me so much and grateful we remained friends RIP sir you will be missed
Tom was a dedicated Bryan Rotarian for over 50 years. I loved his big smile and comments of supportive for the effort of others in the club. He will be missed!
Our condolences to David, Jessica, and all the family on the loss of your dad. May God’s peace be with you at this time and always. You will meet again.
Always Remember The Moments. They Will Last With You Forever.
David,Jessica and family, my heart and prayers are with you in the passing of your dad. He made and impact in the life of those he met. May the Lord peace and blessings be with you. Love
I love you cuz!! I will always cherish coming over to visit you as a child and you adoring my smile!! Say hello to my wonderful family and I will see on the flip side!! Lots of love to you Tom King and all of those closest to you.
Love and prayers,
Shannon Ritchey Dezell
Oh what a wonderful man Heaven just called home! Dr. King not only straightened my smile and that of two of my children, he was responsible for beginning my 40 plus years in Dentistry. Dr. King’s smile was electric. He attracted the best team that ever worked in Dentistry. His Father-like image to every young person he met grew our community like no one else could have. Dr. King and Dr. WH Ritchey were truly the foundation for our healthy smiles. They both continued their love and dedication to so many until their passing. I just saw “Tom” a few weeks ago while eating at Wings and More. He greeted me with that awe inspiring smile and of course remembered my name. That says a ton of his love for others. We love you Dr. King! You will be missed for sure. The Bard Family
Tommy, I remember our families’ gatherings in your house growing up with Norma and you and the funny faces Uncle Tom made. And my and my mom’s visits with you and Howard for her teeth in later years. I’m sure God has already welcomed you to His wonderful Heaven. Love you, Cousin.
I am so sorry for your lost. Dr King was one of my professors in ortho school. I really enjoyed his help and thought highly of him. He is now with the Lord Jesus and one day we will see him again if you are a believers and have received Jesus in your heart.
Tom King was the consumate Christian gentleman. My wife Ginger and I loved both he and Evelyn. Tom was my teacher in the UT Orthodontic residency program in 1963-64, and my five fellow residents and I valued both Tom’s professional knowledge, but more than that, his Christian influence. He taught us both how to achieve excellent treatment results on our patients, but how to have a positive influence on those patients. i pray that some of what Tom exemplified rubbed off on me to some extent, as i can’t think of any man I would count as a model to guide me professionally and spiritually. I only wish that we had more opportunities to be together in resent years. He will be missed by all of us who knew and trained under him.
Dr. King was a true gentleman. I was honored to know him. God has a new worker in heaven.
We are so sorry for your loss. Please accept our deepest sympathies.
Dr. King came highly recommended as an outstanding orthodontist and caring man. He cared for two of my son’s when it came time for them to need braces. My boys and I loved him and his staff.
May God be with each of you.
I taught with tom at UTDB fo;r many years. He ws the ultimate gentleman and I enjoyed his company in those years.
Tom was truly a kind man and great teacher. I enjoyed having him as a instructor at our orthodontic program and in study clubs in years that followed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
I taught with Tom at UTDB for many years. He was the ultimate gentlaman at all times. Dentistry and the world could use more people like him for sure.
Dr. King introduced me to the world of headgear and retainers in the 1960s. I remember so well walking from Lamar Jr High to his Osler Blvd office where he performed orthodontic magic. He was always so friendly and kind. Certainly anyone whose life he touched professionally or personally was so much better for it. Prayers to his family and God bless this extraordinary gentleman.
Dr. King was always so very nice to me and my wife, Gail. Gail was a patient of Dr. King’s when he was a general dentist. When I first met him in his office in 1978, he was so kind and supportive. He asked me to leave some of my business cards and he would pass them out to patients looking for a young general dentist. He was always so glad to see you in his office or at meetings; always a warm smile. He was a great mentor. May God hold you in his loving arms and give you comfort.
Sigurd S. Kendall, D.D.S. (Ret).
Tom King was always smiling and a lifelong learner. He welcomed me every time he saw me at a meeting. I will remember how this made me feel and hope to pass that feeling along to someone else in the future to honor him.
When Dr. King smiled at you before or after a Rotary meeting, you just felt better about yourself. He was a special human.
Dr. King was twice my age but never made me feel little. I look forward to seeing him again someday.
Dr. King was the sole reason why I became a dentist. His inspiration and smile were addictive. I enjoyed driving to Bryan to see him every month from Huntsville back in the 70s. I could tell even at that time that he reflected Christ in his manner. I look forward to spending eternity with you, Tom.
Tom was a great friend and was a great help to me and my family as I began my practice here. We were never seen as competitors but as friends and fellow Orthodontists. He was always there for guidance and support.
We will miss him.
To Charles King:
Deepest condolences.
—Nancy Farris
Charles,
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your brother David and family. Tom was truly a thoughtful and carrying individual.
Do me a favor and drop me a line with both of you contact/address information.
I sent the link to the above video to Lois and Elizabeth so they could enjoy some of these family memories as well. I know they both wish that they could have come down. I always enjoyed gatherings with the family.
Bill, Karen & Barrett Sellars