* Roland Lakin, 88; Ex-Restaurant Manager

Roland Lakin, a former manager of Neil De Vaughn’s Restaurant in Monterey for a quarter of a century, died Tuesday at his Ventura home. He was 88.

Lakin was born June 14, 1908, in Los Angeles. He grew up in Santa Barbara, where he graduated from high school and attended college.

While attending Santa Barbara State College, Lakin was a member of the Beta Sigma Chi fraternity.

Lakin later served in World War II and became a field director for the American Red Cross, an achievement he looked back on with pride, family members said.

After the war, Lakin went on to manage the renowned Neil De Vaughn’s, where he rubbed elbows with celebrities for 25 years. He was a resident of Monterey for 50 years before moving to Ventura.

Lakin is survived by a daughter, Margery Strickland of Oxnard; a stepson, Walter B. Marriott Jr. of Ventura; a stepdaughter, Barbara Hamm of Santa Barbara, and a sister, Virginia Wright of Santa Paula. He was preceded in death by two wives, Zoella Marriott Lakin and Mary Hicks Lakin.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, with Father Jerome Kahler officiating.

Donations in Lakin’s memory may be made to the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church School Fund, 3290 Loma Vista Road, Ventura 93003, or the Ventura County Museum and Historical Society, 100 E. Main St., Ventura 93001.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.

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