Obituaries : Richard V. Laubacher; Ex-Water Board Member

Richard V. Laubacher of Oxnard, a former planning commissioner and Army veteran who served in the Battle of the Bulge, has died at 78.

Laubacher was born on May 4, 1918, in Oxnard. He was the last of six children born to Oxnard pioneers Joseph and Mary Laubacher.

From 1942-45, Laubacher served in the U. S. Army 6th Armored Division under the command of Gen. George S. Patton and was awarded the Bronze Star for service at the Battle of the Bulge. He also saw duty during the Korean War and retired from the Army with the rank of captain in 1953.

Laubacher distinguished himself in the business community in Oxnard, beginning in 1946 as owner of Laubacher Appliance. In 1963, he joined his brother, Tom, in the insurance and real estate business formed by their father in 1903.

Laubacher served as president of the Oxnard Planning Commission and was a member of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce for more than four decades. He was on the chamber’s board of directors for more than 12 years and was a member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 50 years.

Elected to the board of directors of the United Water Conservation District in 1983, Laubacher served until 1996. He was vice president of the board in 1985 and 1986.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kathleen; daughters Victoria Price of Moreno Valley, Kathleen Laubacher of Sacramento, Cynthia Laubacher of Citrus Heights and Sharon Boothe of Ardmore, Pa.; sons Richard Laubacher Jr. of Oxnard, David Laubacher of Ventura and Jeffrey Laubacher of Citrus Heights; brothers Joseph Laubacher of Medford, Ore., and Thomas Laubacher of Oxnard, and sister Marion Sweetland of Oxnard, and nine grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at James A. Reardon Mortuary, Oxnard. The rosary and funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Santa Clara Church, Oxnard. Msgr. Charles O’Gorman will officiate.