Stephen Carter King

To view a livestream of Stephen's service at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, click HERE

Stephen Carter King

April 9, 1958 – May 3, 2026

Stephen Carter King, known to everyone who loved him as Steve, passed away on May 3, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was 68 years old. Born on April 9, 1958, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Steve lived a life defined by determination, high standards, and a fierce, unwavering love for his family.

The foundation of who Steve became was laid long before any boardroom or baseball diamond. His grandmother — beloved by the family simply as Granny — had immigrated to this country from County Galway, Ireland, and built a life from the ground up. She ran a general store in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, and it was there, behind the penny candy counter, that a young Steve got his first taste of business. Granny taught him the rules of commerce and mathematics, but more than that, she showed him what it meant to work with purpose and integrity. Steve idolized her. Of all the people in his life, she may have held the most treasured place in his heart during those formative years.

Steve came up the hard way and wouldn’t have had it any other way. A graduate of Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, he briefly attended the University of Cincinnati before an opportunity arose that few could refuse: a chance to play AAA baseball. He pursued it without hesitation. When his playing days ended, Steve didn’t look back. He entered the automotive parts industry at the ground level, joining Fleenor Auto Stores as a counterperson. What followed was a career that could only be described as remarkable. Through years of hard work, an instinct for business, and the ability to lead through wave after wave of mergers and acquisitions, Steve rose through the ranks until he was overseeing more than 1,000 retail locations across the country.

In the years that followed, he brought that same tenacity to new ventures — serving as Regional Vice President for Safelite Auto Stores on the East Coast, running a manufacturing company in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina that produced mufflers and undercar exhaust systems, and later working as a sales representative for ALLDATA, which provided software solutions for automotive repair shops. He rounded out his career with independent consulting work, continuing until health challenges led him to retirement.

Faith and community were pillars of Steve's life. He was a devoted member of the Greek Orthodox Church and a member of AHEPA for many years. For ten years, much to the good-natured exasperation of his wife, Patty, he served as president of his HOA in his Geist neighborhood, a role he took on with characteristic seriousness and dedication.

Steve was a man of enthusiastic passions. He bled Notre Dame gold, followed the Dallas Cowboys with devoted optimism, and was a life-long Cincinnati Reds fan. (For his fifth birthday, his uncles took him to a Reds game, which happened to be the first game that Pete Rose played in. From that moment on, he was a diehard Pete Rose fan and believes he should be in the Hall of Fame). Motorsports ran deep in his blood; for several years, he arranged his vacations to coincide with race week at the Indianapolis 500. And at home, he was the household DJ, filling rooms with the music he loved: The Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett, Talking Heads, David Bowie, and Steely Dan. His daughters grew up with those albums as the soundtrack of their childhood.

Steve did not suffer fools lightly. He expected the best from the people around him, and he gave no less in return. He pushed those he loved to do things right, to take no shortcuts, to reach higher than they thought they could. But those who knew Steve understood: every high standard he set came from a place of profound belief in the people he loved.

In his final years, facing serious health challenges, Steve became something more: a model of grace under pressure. He advocated fiercely for himself and for his family, and in doing so, he taught them how to do the same. Through it all, he faced each day with a smile, not because it was easy, but because that was who he was.

Above all else, Steve King was a family man. It was during his years at Fleenor Auto Stores that he met the woman who would become his greatest partner, Patty. She didn’t make it easy for him, but Steve was never one to back down from a challenge. He won her over, and the two fast became best friends for life, a friendship that anchored their nearly 36 years of marriage. He was fiercely proud of his three daughters and absolutely head over heels for his granddaughter, Elaine, whom he doted on with unbridled joy.

Together, Steve and Patty built a life that took them across the country and back. They put down their first roots in Indianapolis, then followed Steve’s career to the East Coast — living in Hingham, Massachusetts and Portsmouth, New Hampshire — before returning to Indianapolis. They spent several years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and ultimately came home to Indianapolis, where Steve lived out his final years surrounded by his family.

Steve was preceded in death by his dear Aunt Bonnie, Bonnie Fultz, a close family friend whom he loved as family and cherished throughout his life.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 36 years, Patricia (Patty) King — whom he was just two days shy of celebrating another anniversary with — his daughters, Demetra (Demi) Donovan, Alexandra (Alli) King, and Cassandra (Cassi) King; his son-in-law, Burke Donovan; and his granddaughter, Elaine Donovan.

Steve King leaves behind a legacy of hard work, high expectations, and a love that never wavered. He will be deeply missed.