Biography: Palm Desert, CA –– Mrs. Martha J. Miller King, 75, died unexpectedly at her home in Palm Desert, California, on January 2. A native of Arkansas, she had been a resident of San Diego for almost 50 years. She and her husband, Gene King, had moved to Palm Desert after retirement in 2004. She was born at Van, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Emmitt Miller, on October 4, 1933. Graduating with honors from Brinkley High School, she received her degree from Arkansas State Teachers College (now University of Central Arkansas) in 1954 and then studied as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was married to Gene King, formerly of Mountain Home, on May 30, 1955. Upon his being drafted into the Navy, they moved to San Diego, where Mrs. King worked as a social worker at the University of California at San Diego Hospital. While still in Arkansas, Mrs. King was a social worker for the American Red Cross, Pulaski County chapter, and also served as Director of Public Relations for the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. In San Diego, she was Public Relations Director for the American Heart Association of San Diego. She became interested in real estate, earned her license and successfully helped several friends invest in beach properties. She later co-founded, with her husband, The King Company and was an active broker for many years. During the next several years, she was a board member of The Globe Guilders of the Old Globe Theater and was a founding director of the Klee Wick Society of the Museum of Man. She was a member of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in San Diego for almost 50 years. She was the leader of a group of Mission Hills residents who campaigned for and won a fight to get an abandoned cemetery converted into Pioneer Park, now a city treasure and site of various events including a popular Summer Pops Series. Survivors are her husband of 53 years, Gene King; their son Grant and his wife Shelly of Penryn, California; two grandchildren, Tanner and Lauren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of life and committal service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in San Diego. Memorials may be made to the Cathedral at 2728 Sixth Ave., San Diego, CA 92103, or to a favorite charity. Online guest book: www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.