Carleton James “Chip” King, III, passed away on September 1, 2021, in Virginia Beach, VA, following a very short illness. He passed away peacefully with family members at his side. Chip was born June 18, 1958, in Kingsville, TX, to Capt. Carleton James “Cookie” King, Jr., and Joan Simon King.

Although born with Treacher-Collins Syndrome, this disability did not define Chip nor particularly limit his life experience. He was a unique and memorable person and made friends wherever he went. A 1977 graduate of First Colonial High School, Chip was the equipment manager for the varsity football team. He had a love of nearly all sports and was a massive fan of golf and football. Chip was a golfer himself, often playing Broad Bay with his father, and even scored a hole-in-one in 2010.

After high school, Chip went to work for the Lighthouse Restaurant and worked there for decades. He was the perfect employee in many ways and considered arriving 20 minutes before his shift as being on time. Chip was awarded the Hospitality Employee of the Year in 1993 by the City of Virginia Beach and the Virginia Restaurant Association. He finished out his foodservice career with Wing King in 2015, sidelined by a medical issue.

Chip was a fixture in Virginia Beach, grabbing an early breakfast at the Princess Anne Plaza Denny’s before navigating public transport to work at the beach. He enjoyed after-work beers with coworkers at Chix on the Beach or Sugar N Spice Bar. His favorite outings were grabbing a platter of Rockefeller oysters at Dockside with family and friends and Mexican at Ensenada Restaurant with his mother’s dear friends from Goodman-Segar-Hogan. Chip enjoyed his travels to Hawaii and Mexico as well as several cruises. 

His parents predeceased Chip. He is survived by his sister Marghe Means and brother-in-law Bob, brother Andrew and his partner Shari Friedman, and brother Chris and his spouse Susan Sanchez. His aunts Barbara Mills and Connie Murphy, and many cousins; nephews Austin King, and Taylor and Cayce Means; niece Isabel King; and stepmother Ann King also survive Chip. And he leaves behind many, many friends. 

Chip King was a decent, loving, compassionate, generous, and courageous man. He had a sly and sophisticated sense of humor that belied any seeming intellectual disability, and he was a keen observer of the human condition and quick to smile. He will be truly missed.

The family wants to thank the First Colonial Inn staff for making Chip feel safe, secure, and at home. We are also grateful to the doctors and staff of the Sentara Virginia Beach General Emergency Room for their professionalism, kindness, and empathy in the face of immense COVID-related challenges. Because of the pandemic, there are no services planned at this time. Please consider donating to Special Olympics in the memory of Chip.