Oscar Lamare (Lamar) Peacock; Store Owner

Oscar Lamare (Lamar) Peacock, an Oxnard native who operated a soda fountain and record store in downtown Oxnard for more than 50 years, died in an Oxnard hospital Tuesday after a lengthy illness. He was 86.

Peacock was born July 6, 1906, in Oxnard and lived most of his life in his hometown. After graduating from Oxnard Union High School in 1926, Peacock joined the Los Angeles Opera Fine Arts Symphony Orchestra, playing the violin and bass viola. He performed with the orchestra for eight years before returning to Oxnard.

In 1937, Peacock took over the helm of the Peacock Soda Fountain on 5th Street, which his father had opened in 1906. He married Violet Gartrell, who worked at the soda fountain, in 1936.

For decades, the Peacock Soda Fountain was a popular gathering spot for the town’s youth and, during World War II, for servicemen.

“Many of the high school kids hung out there,” said Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez, who was an occasional visitor to the soda fountain during its heyday. “To me, the store represented the small-town nature of Oxnard.”

After selling records from the soda fountain for years, Peacock opened the Peacock Music Bar in 1957 and closed the soda fountain three years later. His music store was decorated with the soda fountain’s wood-and-tile counter.

The store carried a wide range of music, reflecting Peacock’s musical background. Frank Salazar, conductor emeritus of the Ventura County Symphony Orchestra, said the store had the best classical section in the area.

“He could have won a million dollars on ‘Name That Tune,’ ” said Max Coulson, who purchased the store from an ailing Peacock several years ago. “You could hum a tune, whistle it or sing it, and Lamar could tell you who sang it, what the title was, the recording company and the year it was recorded.”

In a coincidence, Coulson said he finally removed the soda fountain bar to make room for new records Tuesday, the day Peacock died.

Survivors include Peacock’s wife, Violet; a daughter, Kristine Pitt of Mt. Vernon, Wash.; a son, Loren L. Peacock of North Hills; two sisters, Nancy Turbett of Oxnard and Winifred Bird of Ventura, and three grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura. Visiting hours will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the Payton Mortuary Chapel, Oxnard.

Arrangements are under the direction of Payton Mortuary.