Jim King
NAPA - Jim Big Bear King passed away at his home in Napa on Nov. 13, 2007, after a courageous 25-year battle with asbestosis. Jim Big Bear was born on March 20, 1931 in Portola to Edward Leroy and Erma Victoria (Sitting Fox) King; he was the seventh of eight children.
Jim was raised in Vallejo and attended St. Vincent’s Catholic School, Farraget Elementary and Vallejo Jr. High. In 1947 at the age of 16, Jim made the decision to enlist in the Army Air Corps. In 2002 Big Bear was among the first graduating class to receive their high school diplomas from Napa County Department of Education at the Veteran’s Home in Yountville. These diplomas were earned by veterans who left school early to serve their country. This ceremony was a dream come true for Big Bear.
Jim was in the Army Air Corps from 1947 to 1950 and was stationed in Germany as part of the post-Berlin Air Lift Mission. Upon returning home in 1950 Jim was introduced to Arlene Thornton, a beautiful redhead with starry eyes for him. Arlene was 16 and Jim was 19 years old. After dating for over a year, and two days after Arlene’s 18th birthday, they were married on Oct. 14, 1951. That same year Jim was accepted into the program at Benicia Arsenal and worked in fire control. In 1955 Jim moved his family to Los Angeles and qualified for a position at North American Aviation. He was a part of the engineering research team who developed the guidance systems that was later used on the Apollo Moon Mission and the Nautilus submarine’s first exploration to the North Pole. Jim continued his education throughout his life. In 1962 Jim began his career at Mare Island Naval Ship Yard where he held over five engineering certifications. The majority of his years were spent in the nuclear power division. Big Bear assisted many fellow workers apply for compensation when they discovered that they too were struck with asbestosis. Jim retired from Mare Island in 1983 due to his progressive asbestosis.
In 1972 (after the Wounded Knee incident) Jim’s spirit of justice was ignited from within his own Native American roots that drove him to use his experience, knowledge and spirituality toward the preservation of the Native American culture. His first act of awareness to the American Indian plight was to pull a cross from Napa to Sacramento with Capiler’s Indian Laws and Rights bound to it. Shortly afterward he became involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM), Dennis Banks’ extradition, and the introduction of the religious rights of the Sun Dancers to practice their annual ceremony. He was an active Sun Dancer (eight times) until his health no longer allowed him to dance. Big Bear continued to be an advocate for and an educator of the true history of Native Americans, the sacred rituals, and a fighter for religious freedoms. Big Bear spent countless hours speaking at elementary, junior high, high school and colleges throughout Northern California. Big Bear was active in the establishment of the Suscol InterTribal Council whose mission it is to develop and maintain a Native American cultural center as well as to preserve and protect Native American sacred sights and traditions.
Throughout Big Bear and Arlene’s 56 years of marriage they have brought comfort, food, clothing and love to those in need from the elderly and forgotten in nursing homes, to the homeless, to those who had no voice. This heritage has strongly influenced, provided direction and given spiritual strength to Big Bear’s three children, Susan Tall Tree Stanton of Napa, Caleb Lame Deer King of Goodman, Mo., and Erma Attracting Woman Weyandt of Napa.
Big Bear’s rich heritage and stories will continue to be passed on to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and generations to come.
A community memorial will be held on Dec. 1, at 1 p.m., at the Elks Lodge, 2840 Soscol Ave., in Napa. This will include an American Indian ceremony and a celebration of his life. We welcome all who remember Big Bear and his involvement in our community. In lieu of flowers the family would like memorial donations to go to Suscol Inter-tribal Council, P.O. Box 5386 Napa, CA 94581 or www.suscol.nativeweb.org.