Obituaries - Dec. 15, 1998

* Robert D. Linnett; Owned Shoe Stores Robert Donlon Linnett, a prominent businessman and civic leader in Oxnard in the 1950s and 1960s, died Saturday at his Solimar Beach home from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 82.

Linnett was born Oct. 10, 1916, in Oxnard. He opened a shoe store in downtown Oxnard in 1948 that grew into a small chain and included locations in Lompoc and Salinas.

During the approximately 30 years he owned and operated Linnett’s Shoe Stores, Linnett was active in the local business and civic communities.

He was a former member of the board of directors of the Bank of A. Levy, a former president of the local chamber of commerce and a member of Oxnard’s original urban renewal committee.

Linnett also served terms as president of the Oxnard Exchange Club and as grand knight of the Oxnard Knights of Columbus, and was a member of the Ventura County Grand Jury and the Elks.

“He felt that the community gave him so much that I know he just wanted to give it back,” said his son, Mark Linnett of Martinez.

Linnett had lived for the past 24 years in Solimar Beach with his wife, Jean.

In addition to his wife and son Mark, Linnett is survived by sons Michael Linnett of Truckee and Scott Linnett of Rancho Bernardo; a daughter, Ann Pless of Santa Barbara, and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the San Buenaventura Mission. Burial will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.

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