* Nicolas Ochoa; Retired Counselor

Nicolas Ochoa, a retired Ventura College counselor, died Wednesday in Ventura after complications stemming from a heart attack. He was 64.

Ochoa was born June 9, 1935, in Edinburg, Texas, and lived in Ventura County for 29 years. He worked for Ventura College as a bilingual counselor for 27 years, and retired in 1997.

He enjoyed playing guitar and attending horse races and gun shows, his family said. He also had a part-time woodworking business.

He is survived by his wife, Roshan Ochoa of Ventura; sons Joel Ochoa of Texas, Richard Ochoa of Ventura and Nicolas Ochoa Jr. of Mountain View, and daughter Shareen Ochoa of Costa Mesa.

He is also survived by two grandsons, mother Guadalupe Ochoa, brothers Jesus Ochoa, Roman Ochoa Jr., Hector Ochoa and sisters Sylvia Wells and Nora Garate, all of Edinburg.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Nicolas Ochoa Family Scholarship Fund, c/o Ventura College Foundation, 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura 93004.

Visitation will be Monday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura, with a rosary scheduled for 7 p.m. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Church in Ventura. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, also in Ventura.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.

Ventura County obituaries are compiled by Linda Herron. They are published free of charge as a public service to readers, based on information provided by mortuaries.