Emmett B. Doherty; Former POW, FBI Agent

Emmett B. Doherty, a retired FBI agent, died Tuesday at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks. He was 77.

Born on May 27, 1922, in Pendleton, Ore., he grew up on his family’s sheep ranch.

He served in the Air Force during World War II as a B-17 pilot and became a prisoner of war after being shot down over Germany in October 1944.

He was released after the war and moved back to Oregon. In 1946 he married Kathleen Altstock and returned to school at the University of Portland.

Doherty began working for the FBI as an agent assigned to St. Louis and Omaha. In 1949 he was transferred to Los Angeles and lived there with his family until 1972, when they moved to Thousand Oaks.

In 1977 he retired from the FBI and became a private investigator.

His interests included compiling information about World War II POWs and in particular about his flight crew. He also liked to walk in Wildwood Park, read western novels and watch Notre Dame football games.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Kathleen.

Doherty is survived by son Patrick of Manhattan Beach; daughters Mary Doherty and Shawn Doherty, both of Los Angeles; and his sister Patricia Mutch of Newburg, Ore.

Services are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on May 6 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Bros. Griffin Mortuary in Thousand Oaks.