Russell Adolph Vogel

Russ was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 22, 1924 where he resided until age 14 when he moved to Pasadena, California to live with his aunt and uncle. After graduating from high school in Pasadena at age 16, he attended Pasadena City College earning his A.A. Degree. Russ enlisted in the United States Naval Reserves at age 17 before he was assigned to active duty in June of 1943, serving our country on the USS Elkhart as a Radar Operator until his honorable discharge in 1945. After his discharge, Russ continued his college education and attended the University of California Santa Barbara, where he earned his degree in education in 1949. While attending UCSB, Russ met the love of his life, Gerry Steen, while working as a dishwasher at Gerry’s sorority house in Santa Barbara, and they married on August 21, 1948 in Taft, California. After their marriage, they resided in Santa Barbara for one year, while Russ finished his last year of college, and then resided in Ventura until moving to Ojai in 1953, where they raised their two daughters, Vicki and Jannell.

Known by many throughout Ventura County and the Ojai Valley as a devoted educator, Russ first started his career as an elementary school teacher, where he taught at Mira Monte Elementary and Oak View Elementary schools. In 1953, he became the school Principal of Oak View Elementary and continued his education earning his M.A. at USC in 1963. In 1971, Russ became the school Principal of Montalvo Elementary School in Ventura until his retirement in 1984 at age 60. Russ and Gerry’s retirement allowed them to travel over the next 20 years to various foreign countries and throughout the United States.

Russ was a member of HELP of Ojai and volunteered his time driving the RSVP transportation van around Ojai for many years. He was also a member of the Ojai Valley Retired Business Men’s Club, the Ojai Optimist Club, and he was an active and longtime member of the Ojai Presbyterian Church since 1953.

Russ will be remembered for his endless and unconditional desire for helping others and his infinite love for his wife and family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Gerry, and his infant son, Russell William Vogel.

Russ is survived by his daughters, Vicki Mark (Dan) of Newbury Park and Jannell Boyle (Greg) of Camarillo; grandchildren, Erin Samaniego (Phil) of Camarillo, Ryan Reynosa (Malinda) of Ventura, Dane McGuire (Amber) of Camarillo, and Megan Fulkerson (Kyle) of Camarillo; niece, Sandra Turpen (Joe), their sons Gregory, Bradley and Jeffrey and their families, all of Idaho; and nephew, Gregory Steen of Washington. Russ is also survived by his six great-grandchildren, Olivia and Evan Samaniego, Jace, Jayden and Stella McGuire, and Grey Fulkerson.

Our deepest gratitude and appreciation go out to our father’s amazing friend and loving caregiver, Jared Cyr, as well as the wonderful and caring staff of Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 31, 2016, at the Ojai Presbyterian Church located at 304 Foothill Road in Ojai.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Russ’s memory to HELP of Ojai, 111 Santa Ana Street, Ojai, CA 93023, or the Ojai Presbyterian Church, 304 N. Foothill Road, Ojai, CA 93023.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com