Dewey O. Raburn Jr.

Services will be Wednesday for Dewey O. Raburn, Jr who passed away October 28, 2008 at a local convalescent hospital. He was 87 years old.

He was born May 19, 1921 in Hawaii, the son of Dewey and Edna Evensen Raburn. He moved to the main land as a child and grew up in Oakland and San Jose where he graduated from high school. Following his high school graduation he took a job with Pacific Telephone but soon enlisted in the U.S. Army. Dewey served in the Army Air Corps in the China-India-Burma and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters of the Second World War as a communications specialist. His proudest service was serving in the company of General Jimmy Doolittle at the 8th Air Force Headquarters on Okinawa. On his 85th birthday, he enjoyed a visit with Colonel John Doolittle, son of the late General Doolittle.

Following his military service Dewey returned to a position at Pacific Telephone where he worked for 36 years. In 1976 he began working at Soquel Cemetery, overseeing all cemetery and crematory operations. He worked at Soquel Cemetery until 2004 when health problems required him to retire.

Dewey will be remembered for his tenure as Commander of Aptos Post 10110, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also served as Commander of American Legion Post 778, in Aptos. For his efforts, Dewey was awarded "All-State Post Commander" status eleven years in a row, as well as "All-State County Council Commander". He was very proud of his military service and his VFW post and enjoyed participating in the Aptos 4th of July Parade. He was also an avid tennis player and enjoyed visits to the Watsonville Fly-In and Air Show.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Grace Raburn; his sons, Paul Patrick, Paul Raburn, Martin Raburn and Steven Raburn; he is also survived by many grand children and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Dewey Raburn. Dewey was known and loved by many and he will be greatly missed.

Services will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, 2271 7th Ave, Santa Cruz Wednesday November 5th at 11:00 am. Friends are invited to call at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz, Ca. Tuesday November 4th from 2pm to 5pm. Entombment is in Holy Cross Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers contributions are preferred to Aptos Post 10110, Veterans of Foreign Wars, P.O. Box 928, Aptos, CA 95001 or to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066.