Obituaries : H. George Splinter; Realtor, Air Force Veteran

H. George Splinter, a former president of the Ventura Board of Realtors and a 24-year county resident, died Tuesday after a long illness. He was 76.

Born Feb. 20, 1919, in Dubuque, Iowa, he grew up in Milwaukee, and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque.

After serving in the Air Force during World War II, he worked for the Kelco Co., a seaweed processing company, for many years as a technical representative in Europe, Australia and Asia.

Splinter moved to Ventura with his wife, Eileen, in 1971 from Woodland Hills and became the owner/broker of Century 21 Buenaventura Realty. He served as president of the Ventura Board of Realtors in 1982, was regional vice president of the California Assn. of Realtors and was named Realtor of the Year in 1986, shortly before retiring.

“He liked to travel [and] we took trips after he retired,” said his wife of 50 years. “We took trips to Australia and we went throughout the Orient--Japan, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Bangkok and Singapore.”

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Bianca of Torrance; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Pat and Eric Schuberg of Camarillo and Joan and Donald Felton of Ventura; a sister, Mary Nicklaus of Chicago; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Church, 10800 Henderson Road, with Father Donald Grasha officiating. Private interment will take place at Ivy Lawn Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to Catholic Charities, 303 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura 93001 or the Easter Seal Society of Ventura County, 10730 Henderson Road, Ventura 93004.