Ronald J. Barney; High School Principal

Retired Nordhoff High School Principal Ronald James Barney died Thursday following a lengthy illness. He was 65.

Born Jan. 27, 1936 in Los Angeles, Barney earned a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and a master’s from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

Barney was an original faculty member at Thousand Oaks High School when it opened in 1962. He taught classes and coached football for several years before becoming assistant principal.

From 1969 to 1974, Barney was an assistant football coach at Cal Lutheran and helped coach the offense during the school’s 1971 national championship season.

In 1986, he left Thousand Oaks High to become Nordhoff High’s principal, a job he kept until 1993 when he became the Ojai Unified School District’s assistant superintendent of business. He retired in 1996.

During his career, Barney served on several education accreditation teams. In his free time, Barney enjoyed golfing, boating, theater and reading.

Barney was preceded in death by a son, Paul Barney, who died in 1982.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Barney of Ojai; two daughters, Linda Barney of Glendale and Robin Schlundt of Turlock; two sons, Mark Barney of Ojai and Rick Ragsdale of Gold Beach, Ore.; a sister and brother-in-law, Audrey and Don Pardi of Northridge; a brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Diane Barney of Indio; an aunt, Eoline Potogallo of La Crescenta; two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ojai. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the International Myeloma Foundation at 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood, CA 91607.