George W. King Jr. died peacefully at home in Santa Ana, Calif. on Feb. 21 with his sister by his side. He was 70.

He was born on the Island on June 13, 1951 to George King Sr. and Dorothea King. He spent most of his life living and working on the Vineyard. He followed the footsteps of his grandfather Grafton E. King and his father and became a member of the West Tisbury fire department, station two.

In the 1970s he married Gwen Smith and took on the responsibility of helping to raise four stepchildren.

George enjoyed life to the maximum. He loved to fish and hunt, watch wrestling and western movies on television, and listen to all types of music. He especially enjoyed his “Friday night cruising” with chief George Manter when the chief was able to take him. It was a longstanding tradition, starting with his father, and then passed on to George Jr.

In December 1986, he had a horrific accident that dramatically changed his life forever. He survived through strength and determination. He could no longer fish, hunt or do what he had always done. But he still kept his sense of humor and enthusiasm for life.

In May 2006 George and his mother moved to Santa Ana, Calif. After her death in 2010, he chose to remain in California with his sister. He loved the warm weather, his dog Sparky and the fact that it didn’t snow there.

He was survived by his sister Deborah Willoughby who sadly died 18 days after him. He is survived by Deborah’s husband Edmund Willoughby of Oak Bluffs; his sister Teresa King of Santa Ana, Calif.; his brothers Grafton King of Oak Bluffs; his brother Robert King and Jacqueline Metcalf of Monson; nephew Edmund Willoughby of Oak Bluffs; great niece Keira Willoughby of Oak Bluffs; nephew Timothy King of North Carolina; his stepchildren Robert, Janet, Bonnie and Peggy; along with aunts, uncles, numerous cousins and many friends on both coasts.

He was predeceased by both of his parents and his niece Cheranne Lynn Willoughby.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 21 at 12 p.m. at the West Tisbury cemetery. A potluck reception will follow at the P.A. Club in Oak Bluffs.

Donations can be made in memory of his sister Deborah Willoughby to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Please make checks payable to Contributions Service Office and mail to 10 Brookline Place West, Sixth Floor, Brookline, MA 02445.