Alma Oletta King

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 10, 2009

Mrs. Oletta King went home to be with her Savior on July 7, 2009. She was a resident of Andalusia Manor nursing facility.
Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Andalusia Memorial Cemetery Sat., July 11, with Bro. Bill Pritchett of Southside Baptist Church officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Oletta was born to Alto and Lena Donaldson 90 years ago in Elba, Ala., and was a proud resident of Andalusia all of her adult life.
She was an active member in the First Baptist Church of Andalusia. Oletta and her husband, Gaston, were best known for owning and operating King’s Cafeteria on the square for many years in the 1950s-60s. King’s Cafeteria was known as a community gathering place and was unforgettable to people of that era. Late in life, Oletta came out of retirement at the age of 52 to get an education and work as a nurse.
Gaston and Oletta enjoyed sharing their home on Gantt Lake with friends and family. All of her children and grandchildren have treasured holiday and weekend visits over the years. Oletta loved to fish, cook and garden. She spent countless hours playing with her grandchildren, whether it was badminton and kickball outside or inside playing cards and dominoes. The women of her family will never be able to duplicate her homemade pound cake or fried cornbread.
Oletta was preceded in death by her beloved husband of more than 60 years, Gaston, and her brother, Bascom Donaldson. She is survived by her sons and their spouses, Joel and Rosie King of Panama City Beach, Fla., Wayne and Elaine King of Brewton, Ala., Mark and Lynn King of Andalusia, and Harry and Anita King of Gulf Shores, Ala.; her grandchildren Brooke (Krishna) King of Walnut Creek, Calif., Kelli (Benji) Smith of Columbus, Ga., Marcie James of Andalusia, Anthony (Diana) King of Andalusia, John King of Jacksonville, Fla., Walter (Carrie) King of Andalusia, Leigh (Matt) Griglio of
Germany, Katie Rose of Gulf Shores, Ala., and Harry King, Jr. of Gulf Shores, Ala.; her great-grandchildren, Morgan and Sean of California, Ben and Ryan of Georgia, Jerrod and Kaitlinne of Andalusia, Reide and Sean of Germany and Kayla of Gulf Shores; her brother and sister-in-law, A.W. and Lucille Donaldson of Andalusia; and many extended family and friends.
Memories and condolences may be left at www.foremansfuneralhome.com.