* James Moore; Longtime County Physician

Ventura resident Dr. James Moore died Wednesday at a local convalescent hospital following a brief illness. He was 88.

“He died very peacefully and his family was all around him,” said Moore’s daughter, Kristin Orliss.

Moore was born July 26, 1910, in Santa Maria. He spent much of his childhood on his parents’ walnut ranch in Arroyo Grande.

He attended Stanford University and Stanford Medical School and moved to Ventura in 1936 to do his residency at Ventura County Medical Center. He later joined Drs. Charles Smolt and Ralph “Pick” Homer in private practice.

In 1936, Moore married Ella Jeglum.

Moore enlisted in the Navy during World War II and won the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his service in the South Pacific. After the war, he returned to Ventura to resume his medical practice.

During his life, Moore held positions on various county and state medical boards.

He was chief of surgery at Community Memorial Hospital, chairman of a tri-county blood bank and a member of the state Board of Medical Examiners.

After his retirement, Moore was for many years a member and chairman of the board of trustees at Community Memorial Hospital.

He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, hunting and fishing.

He and his wife, who died in 1986, were avid travelers.

Moore is survived by three sons, James Webb of Martinez and Stephen Moore and Benjamin Moore, both of Carpinteria; two daughters, Kristin Orliss of Monterey and Mary Moore of San Francisco; and six grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the James Moore Educational Fund at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.

Private services will be held. Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura is handling the arrangements.