Obituaries : Herbert Wittenbrock; Retired DWP Electrician

Longtime county resident Herbert W. Wittenbrock died Friday after a brief illness. He was 89.

Wittenbrock retired to Ventura County in the 1970s after spending more than 30 years as an electrician with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He lived in Ojai before moving to Ventura.

Wittenbrock was active in the the local Retired Professional and Businessman’s Club. He was a member of both Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Ojai and the Masonic Lodge of Ojai.

A native of Covina, Wittenbrock had a passion for ham radio, conversing frequently with Navy officials in Port Hueneme from his room at a Ventura retirement home, said his sister-in-law, Mable Wittenbrock.

“He was communicating with his buddies, his Seabee friends,” up to the day before his death, she said.

Wittenbrock also had a talent for gardening, his sister-in-law said.

“He knew how to grow orchids,” Mable Wittenbrock said. “He had his own little garden and greenhouse that everyone in the family envied.”

Wittenbrock’s wife, Sannie, died several years ago. The couple had no children.

He is survived by a sister, Gretchen Sweirs of Oceanside, and a brother, Hans Wittenbrock of Nipomo.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura. The funeral home is handling cremation arrangements.