* Jonathan Kirby; Radio Host and News Writer

Jonathan Kirby of Thousand Oaks, who had been a radio talk show host in San Diego as well as a television and radio news writer in Los Angeles and Orange County, died Thursday. He was 73.

Kirby, once known as the “voice of San Diego,” where he hosted a long-running talk show on KCBQ radio, was born in Providence, R.I., July 8, 1922.

He won a bronze star while serving with the Army’s 42nd Rainbow Division in Europe during World War II, his wife Lynn said, and in the 1950s he had a radio talk show in Denver, making a name for himself as a crusading conservative and anti-Communist.

“He was one of the first,” she said. “[Rush] is Jonathan all over again. Jonathan was ahead of the curve. People just weren’t ready for him.”

The couple, who were married for 43 years, moved to San Diego, where Kirby got his talk show on KCBQ.

During the 1964 presidential campaign, he worked for candidate Barry Goldwater, handling television and radio coverage in California. During that time, he also became friends with another Goldwater supporter, Ronald Reagan, his wife said.

“They weren’t close friends,” she said. “But over the years--through politics--they would run into each other.”

In San Diego, Kirby was at the top of his career, she said. He worked as a sort of crusader not just for conservative issues, but also to help listeners correct injustices, his wife said. Newspaper ads touted him as an “exponent of truth.”

“He really cared about his listeners,” his wife said.

Kirby later worked as a news writer for KTTV commentator George Putnam, and then worked as a reporter out of Los Angeles City Hall for KFWB radio in North Hollywood. He retired in 1982 due to illness.

“There’s just so much I could tell you about him,” his wife said. “He was really wonderful.”

Kirby is also survived by daughters Lisa Dodge and Pamela Kirby and one son, James Kirby, all of Thousand Oaks.

A private funeral service is planned.

Dickenson, Harold E., 86, of Camarillo, a retired maintenance machinist. Conejo Mountain Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Camarillo.

Freeman, Bertha, 88, of Oxnard, a homemaker. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Camarillo.

Garst, Sylvia E., 78, of Ojai, a homemaker. Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Guzman, Pedro Matias Reyes, 87, of Oxnard, a retired labor contractor. Garcia Mortuary, Oxnard.

Hernandez, Amada Cano, 85, of Oxnard, a homemaker. Garcia Mortuary, Oxnard.

Machado, Frances L., 88, of Van Nuys, a homemaker. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Mahnken, Wilberta (Billy) M., 71, of Camarillo, retired clerk for Camarillo State Hospital. Conejo Mountain Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Camarillo.

Peterson, Vera R., 82, of Ventura, a retired waitress. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Schultz, Dorothy E., 72, of Ventura, a homemaker. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Willis, Sara (Rooney), 83, of Ventura, a retired lemon grader. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Yanez, Asuncio, 38, of Oxnard, a cook. Garcia Mortuary, Oxnard.

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