Obituaries : Ray E. DeGroff; Retired State Civil Engineer
A memorial service will be held next week for Ray E. DeGroff, a longtime California resident who retired to Ojai 15 years ago after a lengthy career as a state civil engineer. He was 86.
DeGroff was born in Escanaba, Mich., in 1909, and graduated from Franklin High School in Highland Park, near Detroit. After graduation, he worked as a civil engineer with the state of California.
DeGroff helped design California’s first freeway--the Pasadena Freeway--as well as other state improvement projects. During World War II, he helped design and build the Pan American Highway, which slices across Guatemala.
After retiring to Ojai in the early 1980s, DeGroff volunteered in community activities, including the neighborhood security patrol. He also volunteered as a Caring Neighbor for the Little House and the Oak Tree House community projects.
He was well-known throughout the Ojai Valley for his computer-generated birthday cards and special-event banners.
DeGroff is survived by four children: two sons, Jean DeGroff of Florida and James DeGroff of Westlake; two daughters, Gayel Childress of Ojai and Lynn Koerperich of Santa Barbara; two sisters, Doris Burns of Pasadena and Mabel Wilson of Oceanside; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Little House.
DeGroff’s ashes will be scattered at sea in a private ceremony. A commemoration for friends, relatives and co-workers is scheduled April 17 at Little House, 111 Santa Ana St., Ojai.
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