James W. King Jr.

James was born on August 3, 1925 in Morrisonville, Illinois to James W. King Sr and Lola Hunt. James proudly enlisted in the United States Navy. He attended Great Lakes Naval Station boot camp in 1943, electricians mate school, and following that he was then stationed onboard the USS West Virginia BB 48 until the end of World War II. His extensive military career also included being stationed onboard the USS Valley Forge CV-41 during the Korean War, USS Staten Island AGB-5, Naval icebreaker during operation deep-freeze II from 1956-1957, was commissioned as an ensign in 1958, was at the U.S. Navy Refit facility from 1960-1962, USS Midway CV 41 from 1963-1965 during the Vietnam War, Polaris missile facility in Bremerton, WA from 1965-1967, USS Paricutin AE 18 during the Vietnam War from 1967-1970, and honorably retired from the US Navy in 1970 as Lieutenant Commander James W. King Jr. James met Lt. Rosalie J. Uddenberg (Navy Nurses Corp) on the island of Guam in 1961 and they married on December 27, 1962 in Gig Harbor, Washington. Together they had two sons, James W. King III and Steven M. King. The family moved to Spokane in 1970 and then to Suncrest in 1974. James worked for William Main Realty from 1975 until 1988 as a water systems manager. A proud military man, James was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars from 1974 until his passing. He held various national appointments, including Past State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He many other hobbies included motor homing, fishing with Rosalie, and gardening. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Art King and Bob King; and sister, Linda Sims. James is survived by his sons James W. King III and his wife, Jamie and Steven M. King and his wife, Kay; sisters, Betty Dautel and Judith Knight; granddaughter, Taleah Castillo and grandsons, Kyel King, Michael King and Matthew King. A memorial service with full military honors will be held on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 9:45am at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery. A reception will be immediately following at the VFW Post 51. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice in memory of James W. King Jr.