Horace M. Skinner; Small-Business Owner

Horace M. Skinner, owner of a snack-vending company, has died at the age of 72.

Born in the small town of Brownville in upstate New York, Skinner left for the Air Force after high school in 1940. He served as a pilot and was based in Tampa, Fla., where he met his wife, Mary, in 1945.

“We met at a ballroom dance and married six months later,” Mary L. Skinner said. “He was a very, very good-looking man.”

Skinner left the service in 1946 and studied mechanical engineering in Indiana, eventually earning a doctorate in 1955. The couple then moved to West Covina, where Skinner spent 10 years working in the aerospace industry.

He and Mary then went into business for themselves, starting out with a chicken home delivery business, switching to a blueprint business, and finally settling on a snack distribution and vending business in Ventura five years ago.

Skinner’s hobbies included operating a ham radio, coin collecting and dancing.

He died of a heart attack at his home in Ventura on April 5. His ashes were scattered at sea by the Air Force on Tuesday.

“He died in my arms, which I appreciate,” Mary said. “He said ‘I love you, honey.’ I said ‘I know,’ but I don’t think he heard that.”

Ager, Olga P., 98, of Ventura, a retired nurse and artist. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Bosarge, Arthurine Leslie, 84, of Port Hueneme, homemaker. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Freiberg, John Jr., 71, of Port Hueneme, a senior pump mechanic for Oxnard. Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.

Sullivan, Florence Jane, 80, of Oxnard, homemaker. Guardian Memorial Funeral Directors and Crematory, Oxnard.

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