Obituaries : Robert Earle Pegg; Community Activist

Robert Earle Pegg, a community activist in Simi Valley who served as foreman of the Ventura County grand jury and twice ran for elected office, has died of cancer. He was 68.

His funeral Friday was attended by hundreds of mourners.

A resident of Simi Valley since 1968, Pegg served on the board of numerous service clubs, including the Elks Club, the Kiwanis Club and a chapter of the Salvation Army. He also helped establish the Free Clinic of Simi Valley and was a founder of Simi Valley Bank.

“He had this amazing ability to stand there and talk to you, and when you came away from him, you realized you’d just volunteered to do something for some good group or organization,” said Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton, who attended the funeral.

In 1988, Pegg ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Simi Valley school board. Two years later, he served as foreman of the Ventura County grand jury, before resigning to run for the county Board of Supervisors.

Before retiring, Pegg worked in the collection division of the Internal Revenue Service’s Oxnard office. Before that he was an insurance salesman and served on a committee organizing ticket sales for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

From 1943 to 1966, Pegg was in the Navy. He was discharged with the rank of chief yeoman.

He is survived by his wife, Deanna. He had three sons and four daughters from two marriages.