Willford Scott King

Willford Scott King was born in Lincoln, Nebraska to Harold J. King and Dorothy Helen Keller. After his parents’ divorce in 1950, he, his brother and mother moved back to Nebraska from Louisiana to live with his grandparents Walter and Amelia (Leist) Keller. In 1953, he and his family moved to Boise when his mother was hired to teach at Boise Junior College (now B.S.U.). 

Willford was adopted by his first stepfather which changed his last name to Lee. He kept the name Lee until he went back to his original name King in 1969.

As a Boise High graduate of 1961, Willford attended Boise Junior College and finished his B.A. degree at the College of Idaho in 1966. His early career involved both teaching and librarianship, earning Masters Degrees in both fields; Education in 1968 and librarianship in 1972 at San Jose State University. He taught English at Ontario (Oregon) Junior High in 1966-67 and English and Social Studies at Meridian Junior High in 1967-69. He worked for the State of Idaho as Prison Librarian inside the walls of the old Idaho State Prison in 1972. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s he worked for the Boise School District as an ELL (English Language Learner) Assistant at East Junior High, Capital High School and Riverglen Junior High. He worked as an ELL assistant at Ustick Elementary for four years 2003-2007. More recently, Willford volunteered as a teachers’ assistant at South Junior High for up to ten hours a week for the past ten plus years. 

Willf started King’s Komix Kastle in 1973, and it has been in continuous operation until his recent illness. He was proud to supply generations of comic collectors. 

Willf is survived by his daughter Skye Aldridge, her husband Jake and their children Elliott and Emilia; his former wife Dorothy King (all of Overland Park, Kansas) and his niece Kristen Thompson of California. Willford was preceded in death by his brother Harold Lee and his mother and stepfather Dorothy and Carl Albertson. 

Willford will be interred at Dry Creek Cemetery at a later date. There will be no public services at this time. Instead, please get together with friends and share memories of Willford. He would enjoy that and he will be there in spirit.