George Edward Nuckols

1918 - 2013

George Edward (Ed) Nuckols died on November 28, 2013 in Camarillo, California. He was born January 17, 1918 in Morenci, Arizona to Samuel and Ruth Ogram Nuckols.

Ed's grandparents owned and operated the Painted Cave Resort at the top of the San Marcos Pass in Santa Barbara. He spent his first three years at the mountain resort. In 1922, the family moved to the Del Norte area to begin the life of farming. A few years later, his parents purchased property on Las Posas Road in Camarillo Heights and planted lemon and avocado orchards. He attended elementary school in Camarillo and Somis as well as Oxnard High School. Following high school, he worked for a year then attended UCLA and UC Davis. He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Horticulture and while attending UCLA, he was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity. Immediately after graduation in 1941, he joined the Army Air Corps. He was stationed most of his career at McCarran Field in Las Vegas, Nevada as an aerial gunnery trainer and was discharged in December 1945.

In December 1941, he met his future bride on a blind date at UCLA. On June 7, 1942 in Westwood, California he married Virgene R. Myers.

In 1945, Ed and his brother, Bill, purchased land from Juan Camarillo in the Santa Rosa Valley at the corner of Santa Rosa Valley and Upland Roads. The property was developed into lemon and avocado orchards from bare ground over a period of about 25 years. To provide a cash crop during the early years, the land across Santa Rosa Road was leased from the Adolfo Camarillo for lima bean and black eyed pea dry farming. In addition, they planted tomatoes on the undeveloped portion of the ranch. In 1987, the ranch was purchased for a housing development. Ed and Virgene lived on the ranch until 2003 when they moved to Pepper Farms near Las Posas and Ponderosa Road. His final years were spent at AlmaVia of Camarillo, an assisted living facility.

Ed was very active in the community for over forty years. He participated in 4-H Club activities as a child and resumed his participation as a parent providing leadership for his three children. He served on agricultural committees throughout the county. Ed was a trustee for the Pleasant Valley School District from 1950-1954. Ed was a primary mover for the importation and development of water services to southern Ventura County. He was on the Callequas Watershed Committee that studied ways and means of obtaining a supplemental water supply to eastern Ventura County (1950-1953). He was a Founding Director for the Callequas Municipal Water District (1953-1962) and a Founding Director for the Camrosa Water District (1962-1989), serving as President a couple of times. Ed was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to the Water Development Committee to study the importation of water to Ventura County (1954-1958). He was a member of the Countywide Sewage Study Committee, which resulted in the formation of the Ventura County Regional Sanitation District (1964-1966). He was a member of the Ventura County Flood Zone III Advisory Committee (1971-1975). He was a Founding Director of the Ventura County Special District Association, serving as President from 1976-1981. The two water district activities were the highlight of his public service participation and what he was so proud of. Ed and Virgene were very active over the years interacting with college friends around UCLA football and playing monthly bridge with local farming friends. Ed and Virgene were members of the Saticoy Country Club. Playing golf kept his love of the outdoors and his body active until his 92nd year. He joined the Lions Club at the age of 86 and was active for six years.

He and Virgene were avid world travelers. They enjoyed this activity for over forty years. They were one of the early tourists to enter China in the mid 1970's after President Nixon utilized his foreign diplomacy to open their gates to outsiders. They were on a Mediterranean cruise during the Second Arab-Israeli War in 1967 and were not allowed to disembark on to Egyptian soil.

Ed was most proud of his family. He enjoyed the family gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas the best, especially when everyone was around.

He is survived by his two children: Tom Nuckols and Paul Nuckols, eight grandchildren: Tina Kistinger, Brett Nuckols, Mark Claeys, Matt Claeys, Greg Claeys, Carrie Claeys, Rachel Nuckols and Virginia Nuckols, and three great grandchildren: Sydney Nuckols, Nyle Nuckols and Brady Claeys. His daughter Ann Claeys passed in 2007. His other relatives include nine nieces and nephews. He has two daughters-in-law, Joanne Nuckols and Cynthia Nuckols and a son-in-law, Dick Claeys. He was preceded in death by his wife Virgene, his older brother, Bill Nuckols, and his younger brother, Jack Nuckols.

The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at the Conejo Mountain Funeral Home & Memorial Park on December 19, 2013 at 12:00 (noon) in the Chapel of Hills. A reception will follow in the same building.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Livingston Foundation.