Douglas Dent; Born, Raised on Ventura Ranch

Douglas Dent, who was born and raised on the Ventura Avenue Ranch, died Saturday after a long battle with emphysema. He was 78.

Dent was born Dec. 1, 1918, on his family’s 150-acre Ventura ranch. He attended Ventura Avenue Grammar School, Ventura Junior High School and Ventura High School.

After attending diesel engineering school in Los Angeles, Dent took a position with Northrup Aircraft. When his father died in 1957, Dent returned to help run the ranch.

His parents bought the ranch in 1903, when they immigrated to Ventura from England, said his sister, Nancy Trevor of Ojai.

The ranch, which was sold to developers in the 1980s, produced avocados, Trevor said. Dent planted a citrus orchard when he returned to the land, she said.

“Doug had quite a wit about him,” Trevor said. “He had a real dry humor.”

Dent was also interested in natural medicine and knew a lot about herbs and vitamins, family members said. He was also known for his kindness.

“He was real good-hearted,” said his brother, Jack Dent of Ventura.

In addition to Jack Dent and Trevor, Douglas Dent is survived by daughters Sylvia Loftus and Carol Hale, of Ojai; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura, which is handling the arrangements.