James Franklin King

He was born on February 11th, 1944 in Jackson, Tennessee to parents Robert Franklin King and Lucille Mary Maupin King. He graduated from Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California where he had been a talented gymnast and gifted choir singer. He served in the United States Air Force during Vietnam, stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York and stationed at Volcano, Hawaii. He was also a member of the American Legion.

After his military service, he returned to California and worked as a self-employed painting contractor for the rest of his days. He always said he would work until the day he died and he fulfilled that promise. He was a talented craftsman with a stellar work ethic and was admired by his clients, many of whom called him friend.

Having had a significant spiritual awakening in March of 1987, his primary purpose over the last 38 years was to help others face and overcome their struggles — offering his experience, strength, and hope, his faith in God, his time, and his companionship. He was a gifted storyteller. His voice, whether speaking or singing along to Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song”, was warm, beautiful, and soothing. And, whether standing at a podium on stage or standing on scaffolding at a job site—paint brush in hand—he was a leader, an artisan, a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration to all who knew him. And, despite his favorite tongue-in-cheek quote “I may not be much, but I’m all I think about!”, he was humble and hard working.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years Ginger Lee Norvell King, step-son Darren Chandler and his wife Wendy Chandler, step-daughter Cindy DuSair and her husband Bob DuSair, grandsons Joshua Chandler, Caleb Chandler and his wife Kayla, grandson Christian Plessas, granddaughter Cosette Plessas, sister Patricia Harvey, nephews Brandon and Kevin Harvey, and, of course, Friends of Bill W. He is predeceased by his parents, Robert and Lucille King, his son Gregory James King, and brother in law Glenn Harvey.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on Saturday, December 20th at Valley Funeral Home located at 2121 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, California.

In lieu of flowers, Jim’s family asks that you simply pay it forward. As Jim would do, hand a guy a cup of coffee, tell him it gets better, and show him how it works.