Vincent Clarence Raba

Vincent Clarence Raba passed away peacefully on July 3, 2014 at the age of 91. Born on April 14, 1923 to Michael and Julia (Ruzsa) Raba on the family farm near Selby, South Dakota. Vincent was the fifteenth of seventeen children and the last survivor of his siblings.

On February 7, 1941, at age seventeen Vincent married Lucerne Henrietta Moore in Dakota City, Nebraska. They spent sixty wonderful years together, before she passed away November 2, 2001 at the age of 78. Vincent entered the military on March 13, 1943 during WWII where he served in Europe with the 75th Infantry Division. He is the recipient of two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Battle Stars.After returning home, Vincent attended MacPhail College of Music in Minneapolis, MN where he earned both a Bachelor and Masters degree in Music. His primary instruments were the accordion and trombone. He then taught elementary and high school band and chorus in Woodville and Roberts, WI until 1960 when he moved to Ventura, California and taught vocal music at Camarillo High School. He also taught drivers training and work experience at Camarillo, Newbury Park, and Thousand Oaks High Schools until retirement in 1989.

Vincent was an active member of Saint Mary Magdalen Parish and the Knights of Columbus. He was also a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Vincent was the proud father of five children Jeanette Palmer (Don) Tempe, AZ, Timothy Raba (Tammy) Las Vegas, NV, Linda Rutschow (Michael) Mondovi, WI, Philip Raba (Michelle) Moorpark, CA, and Marcia Farrar (Michael) Horseshoe Bend, ID, 17 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Lucerne, grandson Jonathan (son of Timothy), and his loving companion of nine years Hilda Fortier.

Visitation and Rosary services will be held from 6-9 pm, recitation of the Rosary will commence at 7 pm on Thursday July 10, 2014 at the Funeraria Del Angel Conrad's & James Reardon Mortuary Chapel., 401 West Channel Islands Blvd Oxnard, CA. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am Friday July 11, 2014 at Saint Mary Magdalen Chapel Camarillo, California. Burial will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard, California. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to the Fisher House Foundation made in memory of Vincent C. Raba.