* Howard W. Rourke; Retired Welfare Director

Former longtime Ventura resident and retired county welfare director Howard W. Rourke died Tuesday in Concord. He was 86.

Rourke was born Aug. 2, 1912, in Randsburg, Calif. He was a 43-year resident of Ventura County and its welfare director for 20 years, from 1955 until his retirement in 1975.

Prior to coming to Ventura, Rourke was director of public assistance for Arizona. He also had worked many years as a social worker in that state.

During World War II, he served as director of operations for the American Red Cross.

He graduated in 1934 from Arizona State Teachers College, which is now Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. During his college years, Rourke performed in several plays and presented dramatic readings. He was once crowned state champion in a dramatic reading competition.

He enjoyed golfing, fishing, boating and hunting. Over the years, he owned several boats, which he used for fishing on Lake Tahoe, where he had a second home.

After he retired, Rourke traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. He stayed active well into his 80s, when he could still work his way up a trout stream, his family said.

He is survived by his wife, Agnes Rourke of Pleasant Hill; a son, Robert Rourke of Pleasant Hill; a stepson, Howard Berkeley of Mesa, Ariz.; a sister, Billie Wooton of Arlington, Va.; three granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura with interment at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.

Donations can be made to the Alzheimer Assn.