Obituaries : * Albert Eugene Acton; Educator

Albert Eugene Acton, an educator instrumental in establishing Agoura and Calabasas high schools, has died from injuries sustained in a Thanksgiving Day automobile accident. He was 71.

Acton, who was born Sept. 21, 1924, in Baltimore, had lived in Ventura County for the past 30 years, most recently in Thousand Oaks. He and his family had previously lived in Eagle Rock and West Covina.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Occidental College in 1952 and a master’s degree in education from the University of Paris, informally known as the Sorbonne.

Acton had a 34-year career in education and was the founding principal of Agoura High School from 1965 to 1971. “He was involved in designing the school and hiring all the faculty,” said Agoura Principal Jim Christianson. “In fact, quite a few of the current teachers were hired by him.”

In 1971, Acton became principal of the International School in Bangkok, Thailand, returning to become founding principal of Calabasas High School. He served as principal until his retirement in 1981. He came out of retirement to work as a counselor at Agoura, retiring for good in 1987.

Among his colleagues and friends, Acton earned a reputation as someone who had a knack for working with students and guiding young teachers.

“He was a very special man who was extremely idealistic and committed to students,” said Robert Fraisse, assistant superintendent of personnel for the Las Virgenes School District. “He was at every activity, every dance, every game . . . he was very much a student advocate.”

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Helene; two brothers, Joe Acton of Olympia, Wash., and Robert Acton of Grosse Pointe, Mich.; his daughter, Danielle Acton of Salinas; two sons, Mark Acton of Ventura and David Acton of Thousand Oaks, and three grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated today at 3 p.m. at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church of Thousand Oaks. Guardian Memorial Funeral Directors of Ventura County is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Albert Acton Memorial Fund, Las Virgenes Unified School District, 4111 N. Las Virgenes, Calabasas 91302, c/o Bob Fraisse.

Sheppard, Joe H., 58, of Sunland, commercial trade show decorator. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Hollywood Hills.

Stevenson, George, 74, of Van Nuys, retired officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. The Neptune Society, Burbank.

Struble, George Freeman, 78, of Van Nuys, retired department manager for Lockheed Corp. The Neptune Society, Burbank.

Turner, Shaina Anne, infant, of Newhall. Santa Clarita Mortuary, Santa Clarita.

Underwood, Mitchell O., 61, of Chatsworth, pastor for Family Bible Fellowship. Bastian & Perrott Mortuary, Northridge.

Willys, Olga Helen, 88, of Glendale, homemaker. Forest Lawn Mortuary, Glendale.

Obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. They are based on information provided by mortuaries.