Victor L. Killingsworth

Victor Lee Killingsworth
1920 - 2025
Victor Lee Killingsworth, age 104 fought a good fight and finished his race peacefully in Bakersfield, CA on April 5th, 2025 with many family members surrounding him up to his last hours.
Victor was born in Coalinga, CA to Francis Killingsworth and Evelena Stone Killingworth He was an only child. His parents moved to Taft, CA where he lived the for over 90 years. He graduated from Taft High School, Taft College, and the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration. However, his education was almost interrupted by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Being the patriot that he was, Vic decided to leave college and enlist, but his stepfather encouraged him much e to complete his degree, "You will be much more valuable to the US Navy with a degree." Vic followed that advice, and enrolled as midshipman at Columbia University, and became an amphibious officer. He was ordered aboard the U.S.S. Sumter, an amphibious transport. His division took part in the landings at Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan, and Tinian. In 1944, Vic was transferred to the U.S.S. Artemis and was assigned duty as the communication officer. He was promoted to rank Lieutenant (JG). After his ship took part in the battle of Iwo Jima, he was ordered back to Pearl Harbor to prepare for the landing in Japan. When the Japanese surrendered he was ordered back to San Francisco where he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned duty with Eleventh Naval District.
At the age of 80, Vic published his book, The Gator Navy through Vantage Press, Inc., It relates of his personal story about the Navy that he knew. The book has been recognized as historical reading by the US Navy.
While stationed in Little Creek prior to heading to the Pacific Theatre, Vic met his beautiful wife, Margaret Sexton (Peggy). They dated and Peggy faithfully wrote letters to him overseas for 22 months. When he arrived back stateside in San Francisco in December, 1945, he asked her to marry him. Three weeks later, Peggy left her family in Virginia and moved to Taft, CA. (Upon arriving in the dark in 1946, she mistakenly thought the oil derricks were Hollywood palm trees until her father-in-law opened her eyes to daylight.) Victor and Peggy owned and operated Taft Sporting Goods for 37 years while raising three daughters, Barbara Killingsworth, Janet Killingsworth Sandoval, and Patty Killingsworth Gray.
Upon retirement, at the age of 62, Vic had the great fortune to enjoy many long-distance trips both in the United States and overseas and his 5 grandchildren all living in Taft. He kept very busy with a wide range of community service. He believed that if you live in a community, you should build a community and he did just that!
Some of Vic's accomplishments included helping to launch Westside Little League and Westside Jr. Football. Served on the Planning Commission for the Westside, the West Kern Water District, and Westside Recreation and Park District. He also served as a committee member for the Taft Chamber of Commerce Clean-Up where all buildings downtown were painted in a weekend and recognized by the New York Times. Vic was also involved with the Buena Vista Lake project, bringing it to the Westside and the Westside Oil Museum. He helped to save The Fort. Vic faithfully served as a Rotarian for over 60 years.
At the age of 90, Vic's final project, The Oilworker Monument was completed in Taft and dedicated in 2012 at the 100th Oildorado celebration of Taft. He and his wife Peggy had decided that something big needed to be done for the men and women who contributed so much to our nation through their hard work in dry and grueling conditions. Work opportunities at the Midway Sunset Oil Field brought Vic's family to Kern County. The community's enthusiasm was overwhelming for the project. A committee was formed and a mission statement was written guiding their work for the next 4 ½ years. The beautiful bronze sculpture, created by Benjamin Victor, depicts life in the oil fields in 1910 and stands as the largest bronze sculpture west of the Mississippi at 37 feet tall.
In spite of all his community service, Vic was always available for his children and grandchildren. He was an encourager and a confidant, always faithful and interested in their accomplishments and successes. He taught them his love for the outdoors, taking many fishing trips and vacations with them. He taught them valuable life lessons through everything they did together from vacations, to playing games, to yard work. Vic carried on meaningful and intellectual conversations right up to the point of his passing. He was a rock in their lives. He was very proud of his wife and his family and they were very proud of him.
Without a doubt, Vic's life has been a great adventure. God has granted him a long, fulfilling and healthy life that impacted our world in extraordinary ways. He has been a pillar in Kern County, but more importantly, he was a Christian, a lover of Jesus. Some of his final words to his daughter Patty, are undoubtedly the most important, "Patty, I love the Lord, I love the Lord so much. He has been very good to me." Those were the last words that she heard that will forever ring in her ears until the family is reunited in Heaven. Vic was a great example of God's love to his children. He truly is rejoicing in Paradise with his lovely wife and others who have gone before him.
Victor is survived by his daughters Barb, Janet, and Patty, two sons-in-law Everett Gray and Miguel Sandoval, 5 grandchildren, Christian, Ashley, and John Gray, Sarah and Andrew Sandoval, and 8 great-grandchildren Samantha and Andrew Gray, Piper, Foster, and Lex Gray, and Charlotte, Victoria, and Oliver Sandoval. He is also is survived by faithful nieces and nephews in Washington state, Virginia, and Florida.
Services will be held April 28, 11:00 at Taft Westside Cemetery, officiated by Pastor David Goh. Graveside services with luncheon will follow at the Taft Transit Center – Oilworker Monument. An escort will be provided by the Bakersfield Freedom Riders leaving Greenlawn Funeral Home on Panama Lane at 9:30 for Taft. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Honor Flight, Bakersfield Chapter - Box 255, 8200 Stockdale Hwy Suite M-10, Bakersfield, CA 93311.