John B. Barringer; Former Santa Paula Mayor

John B. Barringer, a former mayor of Santa Paula, died Sunday at Ventura Community Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was 80.

Barringer was born in St. Louis on Sept. 17, 1916. He moved with his family to Glendale, where he attended grade school and high school. He studied business and finance at the University of Arizona, where he was an all-conference end for the football team and played on the 1937 conference championship basketball team.

After his graduation from college in 1938, Barringer worked for Lockheed as a layout engineer until 1944, when he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He moved to Santa Paula after the war, where he formed Barringer & Botke, a general contracting firm. Barringer was a member of the Santa Paula City Council for many years, serving as mayor in 1954-55.

After his retirement in 1981, Barringer played golf and traveled the world with his wife, Kathryn.

“He was a big man with a big heart,” Kathryn Barringer said.

In addition to his wife, Barringer is survived by sons John of Long Beach; James of Tampa, Fla.; Tom of Lomita, and Frank of Oxnard; stepdaughter Ann Heck and stepson Philip Heck; brother Carl Barringer of Santa Paula and sister Martha Jean Albert of Palm Springs.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no services. Friends and family may make memorial contributions to a favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.