Dixie Jean Thornton King

RALEIGH – Dixie Jean Thornton King, 74, passed away Monday, October 16, 2023. She was born in South Bend, IN on April 18, 1949, the daughter of the late Virgil and Carol Thornton. Dixie married Steven King on April 24, 1971. She raised her family in Wakarusa, IN.

Together they went on many missions trips through the Missionary Church. They served on trips to Arizona, Brazil, Russia, Dominican Republic, and Hawaii. After her children were grown, she became a full time missionary. She lived 8 ½ years in Japan at the Tokyo Biblical Seminary with her husband. They retired to North Carolina in 2016.

In addition to her parents, Dixie was preceded in death by her husband, Steven E. King, who passed away June 1, 2022. She is survived by her children, Jeffrey (Maria) King and Angela (William) Geith; sisters, Julie (Michael) King, Debbie (Chuck) Springman, and Carmi Thornton; brother, Philip (Nell) Thornton; 5 grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, October 25th, in the Chapel of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27604. The family will receive friends and relatives immediately following the service.

Flowers are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to One Mission Society (“OMS”) by visiting www.onemissionsociety.org

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com

A celebration of life service will also be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 5th, at Wakarusa Missionary Church, 202 W. Waterford Street, Wakarusa, IN 46573.