* John R. Munger; County’s First Dermatologist

Lifelong Ventura County resident John R. Munger of Oxnard, the first physician to practice with a specialty in dermatology in the county, died Wednesday in an Oxnard care center following a lengthy illness. He was 81.

Munger was born Dec. 4, 1915, in Bardsdale to John and Ella Wileman Munger, pioneer ranchers of the Fillmore area.

The family moved to Santa Paula in 1927, and Munger graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1932.

Munger played football, basketball and competed in track events in high school and played on the basketball team while attending Ventura College. He transferred to Stanford University and graduated in 1937.

While at Stanford, Munger played on the football team known as the Vow Boys, and was proud to have played at the Rose Bowl two years, according to his sister, Elizabeth Munger Blanchard of Santa Paula.

Following his graduation from Stanford, Munger earned his medical degree from USC. World War II began before he could complete his medical training, and Munger enlisted in the Army and became a flight surgeon, stationed with the 790th Bomb Squadron of the 8th Air Force in England.

Many of the young men flying B-24s did not return from their bombing runs over Germany, but, Blanchard said, “Doc Munger” sometimes rode along with the crew to show them that they were not being asked to do anything he would not do.

Following the war, Munger spent three years completing a dermatology residency program at Los Angeles County-USC hospital, and became Ventura County’s first physician specializing in dermatology. He practiced in Ventura until his retirement several years ago, his sister said.

Munger was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Jean Elizabeth, and his wife, Ernagale Morris Munger.

In addition to his sister, Munger is survived by three sons, David of Fresno, William of Texas, who is also a doctor, and Dan of Goleta; one daughter, Ann of Goleta; and four grandchildren. He is also survived by his second wife, Cynthia, of Oxnard and her adult son, Jim.

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.

Contributions may be made in Munger’s memory to the charity or church of the donor’s choice.