Jerry King Passes at 86
Gerald G. “Jerry” King, age 86, died at Rutland Regional Medical Center, Tuesday, October 15, 2013.
He was born January 29, 1927, the son of Ella (Barrett) and George C. King.
Jerry was a lifelong resident of Rutland. He owned and operated Jerry King’s Garage & Gun Shop for over 40 years. Jerry was the Central and Southern Vermont “transmission specialist” for many years. In later years, he operated only the gun shop, ending in February 2013 when a fire destroyed the business.
Jerry served in the Navy Seabees at the end of World War II.
In the ’50s and ’60s Jerry was a well-known and widely respected race car owner and driver at Vermont and New York race tracks. He was known as the “Rutland Rocket” in his well-known “5 Aces.” Jerry was a huge NASCAR fan and was always an avid deer hunter, his last hunt occurring at age 85.
He is survived by a daughter, Donna Morelli and husband, Lee of Rutland; granddaughter Jenn Rocque-Tifft, husband Lane Tifft, their daughters Alex, Casey and Sami Tifft of Tinmouth; granddaughter Robin Wright, husband Jamie, their children Cooper and Addison Wright of Center Rutland; daughter Geralyn Shelvey, and granddaughter Kristine Shelvey of Burlington.
Gerald was predeceased by his wife Roberta (Quinn) King on Feb. 23, 1991.
There will be no calling hours. The graveside service will be held on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Rutland.
Published in Rutland Herald on Oct. 23, 2013.
According to Catamount Stadium, King raced at Pico, Stateline and Fairmont in the 1950s and 60s.”In the ’50’s, he drove at Pico, Fairmont, Stateline, Mettawee, and Warrensburg, to name a few. Later, in the ’60’s, he owned a 1937 Ford which he and Ralph Palmer drove. This (Devil’s) Bowl venture was in the early ’70’s.”