Hartley King, beloved husband and father, died peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 29, 2025, at the age of 88.

Hartley was born in 1936 in Fresno, California, to Esther and Ralph King, and was the older brother to Michael King, who predeceased him in 2024.

Hartley and his wife of 62 years, Beverly, met on a blind date while attending UC Berkeley.

After receiving his Ph.D in mechanical and aeronautical engineering in 1963, Hartley and Beverly married and in 1965 moved to Santa Barbara where they made a loving home for their two daughters, Adriane and Audrey.

After working with distinction for over 50 years in the defense industry, in retirement Hartley enjoyed a quiet life of flying model airplanes, fixing anything broken around the house, contemplating the mechanics of rocket travel, and spending time with Beverly and his beloved cat Rikki.

Hartley is survived by his wife Beverly; children Adriane and Audrey King; son-in-law Kurt Hirschler; and grandchildren Ryan and Alex Hirschler.

While his family will privately celebrate Hartley’s life and mourn his passing, they request that any gifts in his honor be made to Santa Barbara Meals on Wheels, a program that helped Hartley and Beverly live independently in their much-loved home; or to the Legacy Fund of the First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara.