Carroll Winston Churchill Lorbeer; Civic Activist

Carroll Winston Churchill Lorbeer, the man once dubbed the “sixth supervisor” for his 30 years of citizen participation in county government, died Wednesday at a south Oxnard convalescent home. He was 92.

Lorbeer was known for three decades as Ventura County’s most famous gadfly. Although he was a celery farmer and later a real estate agent by trade, Lorbeer was a fierce champion of democracy who spoke his mind. In a 1995 Times interview, Supervisor John Flynn said this about his friend of 30 years: “If anyone is a perfect citizen, it’s Carroll Lorbeer. He’s involved in every issue that exists.”

Lorbeer successfully championed changing dozens of street names in Oxnard for greater uniformity and argued for bringing commercial jets to Oxnard Airport before the county gave its approval.

He supported the widening of Victoria Avenue in Oxnard, and in 1993--in honor of his 85th birthday--the Board of Supervisors named the bridge spanning the Santa Clara River on Victoria Avenue the Carroll W.C. Lorbeer Bridge.

Lorbeer was born in Santa Monica on Dec. 25, 1907. After graduating from Santa Monica High School, he attended Pomona College, earning a degree in 1929.

After graduation, Lorbeer spent a year studying in China and Korea. It was during his travels that Lorbeer said he learned the importance of participating in government. Lorbeer once said he was disturbed by how citizens in both countries seemed so distanced from people in power.

After returning home, Lorbeer managed his family’s farms in West Los Angeles and Culver City. In 1951, he married Grace Chambers and the couple moved to Oxnard. Eventually, he married five times.

In his 1995 interview, Lorbeer described his devotion to activism: “When I quit farming and went into real estate, I decided to devote all Tuesdays to government. Supervisors’ meetings in the morning and council meetings in the afternoon and night.”

Between 1958 and 1992, Lorbeer rarely missed a meeting. But by 1995, he was bedridden after a series of accidents and fractures. His health, however, didn’t stop him from spending hours on the phone each day, keeping in touch with local politicians.

A meticulous record-keeper, Lorbeer saved hundreds of maps, agendas and government reports he gathered over the years. Some of that data is expected to be given to Oxnard College for preservation.

Lorbeer is survived by a daughter, Deborah Potter of Santa Monica; two sisters, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service has not yet been scheduled.

Garcia Mortuary in Oxnard is handling the arrangements.