Barbara "Bobbie" Ann Smith King

Mrs. Barbara (Bobbie) Ann Smith King, 90, of Bryans Road, Maryland died Sunday September 17, 2023 under hospice care. Born December 4, 1932 in Washington, DC, Bobbie grew up during the Great Depression and WWII years. The only child of the late Doris and James Smith, she adored her parents and spent her early years surrounded by loving family and friends in the Bethesda, Maryland area.

Bobbie married the late Randall King in 1954 and they bought a house in Bryans Road. She turned that house into a loving home where family and friends gathered for many holiday dinners and happy times. Throughout the 60s and 70s she raised and doted on her only son, James, and shared her kindness with the multitude of neighborhood children who would stop by for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Coming from a family of lifelong Episcopalians, the church and fellow parishioners continued to be an integral part of her life in Charles County.

After her husband’s larynx cancer diagnosis in 1983, Bobbie became active in the New Voice Club (Laryngectomee Support Group in Southern Maryland) and the American Cancer Society, supporting these organizations for decades. Bobbie also had a reputation as a fearless driver who comfortably navigated Washington D.C. without the benefit of a cellphone or GPS. Without hesitation she drove all who asked, whether they were longtime friends or new acquaintances, to countless medical appointments throughout the D.C. metro area. She also loved to crochet and, with her mother Doris, became part of the Happy Hookers crochet club. Over the years the Happy Hookers created many afghans for service members, Angel’s Watch and other charities.

In the early 2000s, with the help of her beloved Aunt Marie, Bobbie found her half brothers and sister. It did not take long for her to develop a strong bond with them, and they became an important part of her family. Bobbie went on a cruise with them a short time later, a highlight of her travels. Another joy of Bobbie’s life was spending time with her grandchildren. She helped in any way she could: rocking them to sleep; cooking meals; picking them up from school and attending school functions; and making sure they always knew how much she loved them. One of her greatest delights in recent years was the birth of her great-granddaughter, Hazel. Bobbie adored their visits and video chats, grateful to bask in the exuberance of a young child.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother John Cosgrave, and her grandson Matthew King. She is survived by her son James King and his wife Carrie Buswell, brother Gary Cosgrave, sister Debbie Augustine, granddaughter Emily King and her husband Matthew Adams, grandson Jeremy King, and great-granddaughter Hazel Adams.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. James' Episcopal Church, 7 Potomac Avenue, Indian Head, Maryland, 20640, followed by a repast in the Church Hall. 

Memorial contributions may be made to Neighbors Eager to Serve (NETS), a local food and emergency assistance non-profit serving Western Charles County (https://www.stjamesindianhead.org/giving; then select NETS).

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