Ralph Woodrow Gragg; Sheriff’s Deputy, Realtor

Ralph Woodrow Gragg, a former sheriff’s deputy and real estate broker, died Monday after a brief illness. He was 83.

He was born Oct. 23, 1916, in Lompoc and was the middle son of Gladys and Claude “Slim” Gragg. He moved with his family to Ventura when he was 5 years old. He graduated from Ventura High School.

Gragg was a Ventura County sheriff’s deputy until 1953 and designed the star patch that is still worn by members of the Sheriff’s Department.

He was a Realtor and real estate broker in Ventura County until he retired in the late 1970s. He lived in Ventura for 58 years before moving to the Ojai Valley, where he has lived the last 20 years.

Gragg was a director of the Ventura County Fair Board from 1971 to 1975. He was president of the Ventura County Board of Realtors in 1976.

He loved coaching Little League baseball, being a 4-H leader, taking camping trips with his family to Lake Casitas, fishing, hunting and especially being around his horses.

He was involved with the National Reined Cow Horse Assn. He received the association’s President’s Award, and in 1991 was named its Stock Horseman of the Year. In 1996 he was inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame.

Gragg was a founder of the state Junior Livestock Auction. He was a 57-year member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, No. 1430, in Ventura and belonged to the Ventura Yacht Club.

Gragg is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mickey; sons Duane and Marty; daughter Cynthia Vizzo; 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.

Chapel services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday, also at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura. Interment will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.

Memorial donations in Gragg’s memory may be made to the National Reined Cow Horse Assn., 1318 Jepson, Corcoran, CA 93216 or any other charity.

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