William Benjamin “Buddy” King, Sr., 91, a lifelong resident of Calvert County passed away September 23, 2023. He was born February 12, 1932 to James Leroy and Mabel Isabelle (Hall) King. Buddy grew up on the family farm in Owings and graduated from Calvert High School with perfect attendance. He joined the United States Army and served during the Korean Conflict before he was honorably discharged. Buddy had a successful career as a soil conservation technician with the US Department of Agriculture where he once again had perfect attendance, never missing a day of work for 30 years. He was honored for this achievement by President Ronald Reagan in a ceremony at USDA. Buddy was a lifelong tobacco farmer and raised cows, chickens, pigs, and geese on his farm. He also ran a sawmill for many years. He became everyone’s vet in the county and the one they would call on when something went wrong on the farm. He enjoyed gardening and his gardens would provide enough food for his entire family. He was a member of Mt. Harmony United Methodist Church and the American Legion Stallings Williams Post 206. In his spare time, he enjoyed quail hunting, training bird dogs, and playing guitar, mandolin, and violin.

Buddy was preceded in death by his wife Iris Mae King in 2021 and siblings Mabel Lee Ireland, Robert King, Dorothy Ann Secor, and James Edward King. He is survived by his children William B. “Skipper” King, Jr. of Owings, Robert H. King and his wife Patti of Prince Frederick, Scarlett Coblentz and her husband Andy of Frederick, and Douglas Alan King and his wife Amy of Owings, grandchildren Leah Coblentz, Jonathan Coblentz and his wife Jacqueline, Schylur, Vallen, and Brody King, and Heather and Bruce Lyons, great-grandchildren Rachel, Juniper, and James Coblentz, and sisters Alma Ford and Shirley Ewald.