Lonnie L. King

Lonnie L. King passed from this life to life eternal on Friday evening December 13, 2019. His family held hands and were praying for him minutes before his passing.

Lonnie was born on September 21, 1930 in Fredrick, OK. He grew up on a farm picking cotton with his family. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950 during the Korean War. While in the Army, he was a Radar Technician stationed in Baumholder, Germany.

After returning from duty, he reluctantly attended the Monahans Baptist Church in Monahans, TX. After much persistence and prayer Lonnie accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Later he became the Youth Leader of the church and after attending a Regional Youth Meeting held in Crane, TX, God began to call him to Spain. After graduating from Bible Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, Lonnie would go on to become a full-time missionary to the country of Spain for 44 years.

Lonnie was the first independent Baptist missionary in modern times to serve the Lord in the country of Spain. Because of the gospel persecution under the Dictatorship Francisco Franco, Lonnie secretly smuggled bibles across the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain.

On his first furlough he married Jo Ann Brown and took her on a honeymoon cruise to the Canary Islands where they founded a church in Tenerife. In 1967, Lonnie and Jo Ann adopted their only son, Tim. Lonnie started and helped found many works in Spain during his ministry. All in all, he served his Lord actively for over 60 years. Lonnie was always the first to volunteer and the last to leave. He was a faithful servant who put the Lord and His Word first in his life. Many of his colleagues recognize that he was a servant at heart and one that you could always count on.

Lonnie and Jo Ann were married for 57 years and truly enjoyed life together. He loved the ministry and his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Lonnie’s health began to decline a few years ago and had to be moved to Focus Care in Crane.

He is survived by his loving wife, Jo Ann King, son, Tim (Kelcie) King, his three grandchildren, Briana (Cody) Zediker, Brandon King and Ryan King and two great grandchildren, Joshua and Aiden.

Lonnie had 6 siblings, brothers Ray King, Dean King, Sisters Faye Billups and Trudie Kretzinger. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

Lonnie’s soul is rejoicing in the presence of the Lord whom he dearly loved and served faithfully. A viewing will be held on Wednesday the 18th at the Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home in Crane, TX. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Tabernacle Baptist Church, 207 W. 5th Street in Crane, TX. On Thursday the 19th at 2:00 P.M. Any donations can be designated “Missions” to Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lonnie King’s name.