RICHARD E. DOERNER
Richard Doerner was born October 6, 1931 to Leo Joseph and Ruth Valentine Doerner in Oxnard, California. He was five yours old when he lost his mother and twenty-six when his Dad died.
Richard was always a caregiver; when he was a child, every stray animal found its way to the Doerner home. Later, in so many different ways, he became a caregiver to the people he loved. From the time he picked up his first book, he always had half dozen in progress; hence, his extensive learning despite the early end to his formal education. Class Valedictorian at Santa Clara High School, Doerner progressed to the University of Notre Dame but left to care for his father who was dying of cancer. He learned the accounting trade from his father and inherited his Dad’s business when his father died in August of 1957.
His formal career began at the American Crystal Sugar Factory where he worked for four years. He left to go to work for Richfield Oil Corporation from 1953 to 1966. The conversion of Richfield Oil Corporation to Atlantic Richfield prompted him to answer an ad for an agricultural accountant position at the Bob Jones Ranch on Vineyard Avenue in Oxnard. It turned out to be a perfect match. The first thing Bob told Richard was that he knew Richard’s Dad well; he also mentioned that Richard knew Bob’s wife Lupe—because of her flower shop which the bachelor used often. The Bob Jones Ranch and the Jones family became Richard’s home away from home until his retirement 30 years later. He continued providing accounting services for his smaller accounts: Sal’s Mexican Inn (over 57 years); Pablo’s Produce; Luna Transport; and Luna Fertilizer throughout his employment with Jones and after retirement.
One of Richard’s great passions was classical music—opera, in particular. He travelled throughout the world to hear great opera, visiting Budapest, Vienna, London, Venice, Milan, Rome, Paris, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Munich, Salzberg, Bilbao and Madrid. As one dear friend stated, “He is now attending the best opera ever.” He served on the board of The Ventura County Symphony which evolved to the New West Symphony, helping to bring great musical works and Conductor Boris Brott to Ventura County. He also served as Treasurer of the Ojai Valley Museum for 14 years.
To the surprise of his many friends, the lifelong bachelor married Patricia Clark in 1995. He became a much-loved step-father to her four children: John Williams, Jr.; Linda Williams Maertz; Laurie Williams Shelton (Ted); and Debora Williams Cresto (Michael), grandfather to: Richard Maertz, Jr. (Meghan), Brian Maertz (Jett), Katherine Cresto, Michael Joseph Cresto, Sarah Elizabeth Cresto and great-grandfather to Corbin Maertz. He is survived by the above as well as his beloved sister, Sister Veronica Doerner, Carmelite, of Eugene, Oregon.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Most Holy Rosary to be recited at 6pm Wednesday May 27, 2015 in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E. Street Ventura. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday May 28, 2015 at 10am in Santa Clara Roman Catholic Church, 323 South E Street Oxnard.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Richard’s honor be made to support the sisters at:
Carmel of Eugene Oregon
87609 GreenHill Road
Eugene, OR 97402