Carl King

Carl Victor King, a Vietnam veteran who came from a large East Hampton family, died on Jan. 3 of complications during heart bypass surgery at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Manhattan. He was 71.

After he graduated from East Hampton High School, he joined the Army in the mid-1960s, seeing action in Vietnam. When he returned, he moved to Hampton Bays and later Flanders. He was most recently living in Riverhead, where he had moved last year. He worked as a self-employed plumber.

Pauline Mahon of Torrington, Conn., said her brother was proud of his military service. He enjoyed fishing and clamming in Hampton Bays and hunting small game. She recalled how he liked to keep to himself. “He was very easygoing, very happy-go-lucky,” she said.

The 7th of 13 children, Mr. King was born on Nov. 11, 1943, at Southampton Hospital. His parents were Preston M. King, who worked for Schenck Fuels in East Hampton and later as a commercial fisherman, and the former Antoinette Pelis, a homemaker who also worked in a private laundry.

Mr. King had been married briefly.

In addition to Ms. Mahon, he is survived by his siblings Marie Kiembock, Paul King, and Brian King, all of East Hampton, Edwin King of Flanders, and Sharon Peters of Mount Solon, Va. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

He was predeceased by six siblings, Elizabeth Arnold, Carrie Meyer, Viola Buckley, Preston King, David King, and John King.

A military service was held at Calverton National Cemetery, where he was buried. His family has suggested memorial contributions to any V.A. hospital.