Alfonso Echarren

Alfonso Echarren,

83

Land Surveyor, Civil Engineer, and Navy Seabee Extraordinaire

Al Echarren, beloved husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, great-grandfather, veteran, engineer, and friend, passed away on February 9, 2026, at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, California. He was 83.

Born on December 18, 1942, in Canadian, Texas, Alfonso Augustas Echarren-known to all as Al-was raised on the Albertson's Ranch in Thousand Oaks, California. The family made their home there, where his father earned a living as a laborer. Whether Al was grooming horses or completing necessary chores, his upbring on the ranch instilled in him an early love for animals and nature. He also developed strong values that guided him throughout a life defined by service, integrity, and quiet strength. He graduated from Oxnard High School in 1960 and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Business Administration from La Verne College in 1973.

Al proudly served his country in the United States Navy Seabees, dedicating more than three decades of service from April 1961 until January 1, 1994, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme, California. During the Vietnam War, he was deployed with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 to Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, where he served as a squad leader in Bravo Company. There, Al was responsible for camp maintenance and water purification, ensuring clean, potable water for more than 600 men-an essential role carried out with ingenuity, leadership, and a steady "can-do" spirit. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal for his honorable service.

Those who knew Al understood that the military shaped not only his skills, but his character. He was loyal, dedicated, hardworking, and deeply satisfied with what he accomplished-never boastful, always modest. His leadership was calm and dependable, the kind that made others feel safe simply by being present.

Following his military career, Al continued a lifetime of public service and professional excellence. He worked for the County of Ventura beginning in 1962, eventually retiring in 2000 after holding numerous roles, including Ventura County Chief Deputy Surveyor and Division Manager of the Land Development Division. He was a California Registered Professional Engineer, a California Licensed Land Surveyor, and a member of both the California Land Surveyors Association and the National Civil Engineers Association. From 1983 to 1988, Al worked abroad as a civil engineer for Aramco in Saudi Arabia. He later owned and operated his own civil engineering company, retiring fully in 2014 after decades of meaningful work.

Beyond his accomplishments, Al was, above all else, a family man. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Echarren; two stepsons, Drew (Darlene)Addy and Ryan (Rashad) Addy-Davis; his two daughters, Tammy Cologie and Diane Valtos; His stepchildren David (Vera) Barajas, and Norma Barajas; his sister Kathryn Bellon; his grandchildren, Jason (Nichole) McGee and Cameron (Heather) Pottage, Brandon (Ashley)White and Amanda White; His step-grandchildren, Destini Barajas, Dakota Ayala, and Jackson Addy; several great-grandchildren and extended family. He was preceded in death by his late wife, Alicia Echarren; his parents, Alfonso Martin Echarren and Dorothy (Joe)Wood; and his brother, Anthony Echarren.

As a father and stepfather, Al was generous, wise, protective, and deeply concerned for those he loved. As a grandfather, he was fun, quietly humorous, full of wisdom, and always present-someone his grandchildren found easy to talk to and safe confiding in. His love showed not through grand gestures, but through attention, meaningful conversations, generosity, and simply showing up.

Al lived with high moral character, a quick analytical mind, kindness, and inclusivity. Everyone was welcome around him. He carried a calm confidence and stability that made people feel cared for and cherished. He had a quiet wit, a dry sense of humor, and a surprising playfulness-throwing a ball with his youngest grandson or sharing a laugh at just the right moment. He was also a talented ballroom dancer, a lifelong mentor, and a man remembered fondly for his gray-blue eyes, great hair, and charming presence.

His interests were as rich as his life: aviation, fishing, hiking, gardening, baking, quilting, travel across all 50 states and Europe, and devotion to his dogs, Obie, Katie, and Jamie. One small story captures him well: after baking fresh Moon Pies at his home in Ventura, Al noticed neighborhood schoolchildren resting on his garden wall. Without hesitation, he offered them his homemade treats, watching them ride away smiling-an everyday act of generosity that reflected who he was.

If someone who never met Al were to read this, his family hopes they would understand this: he was a hardworking man who always put his family first, a veteran who served with honor, a leader with quiet strength, and a generous soul who made others feel safe, seen, and deeply cared for.

Al Echarren will be profoundly missed and lovingly remembered.