ROBERTSDALE — Betty Cantrell King, 57, of Elsanor lost her life Thursday. According to Alabama State Troopers, she was traveling east on U.S. Highway 90 in a 1997 Toyota Corolla. Around 9:26 a.m., she collided head-on near County Road 62 with a 2004 Ford F-250 driven by David Stewart, 52, of Robertsdale. King died at the scene and Stewart was taken to South Baldwin Medical Center with injuries the State Police describe as not life-threatening.

King was a bus driver for the Robertsdale “feeder pattern” for many years, and started her career with the Baldwin County Public Schools as a cafeteria worker at Elsanor Elementary School.

“Mrs. King was a very dear friend to me. I just can’t believe this great lady is gone,” said Theresa Bryant, principal of Robertsdale High.

It is said that King had completed her bus run, which included Robertsdale High, and was on her way home that morning. Students at Robertsdale High were told of King’s death by one of the assistant principals and counselors were on hand to assist the students.

King’s survivors include her husband of 40 years, John King of Elsanor; daughter, Jessie (Kevin Smith) King of Auburn; son, J. Buford King of Elsanor; brother, James Cantrell of Elsanor; cousin, John Ard of Elsanor; goddaughter, Dale White Wilson of Fairhope; and godson, Zachary Wilson of Fairhope.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 7 at Robertsdale Pentecostal Church with the Rev. Mike White officiating. Burial followed at Bethel Baptist Cemetery in Elsanor.

The family requests memorial donations be made to Elsanor School, 23440 U.S. Highway 90, Robertsdale, AL 36567.

“We will dearly Miss Betty King,” said Bryant. “She was a great supporter of RHS. Our community will miss her too. There are not enough great adjectives in the English language to explain to you what she meant to us.”