Frank "Barney" Quijada passed away April 30, 2016 at his home in Oxnard at the age of 94.
Barney was born in Ventura on Oct. 28, 1921, to Dimas and Beatrice Quijada, the youngest of eight brothers and sisters, and lived his childhood on Ventura’s west side between Ventura Ave and the Ventura River.
In 1946, returning to Ventura after World War II, Barney met Alice Rios. Barney and Alice were married in December of 1947 and lived a short time in Ventura before settling in Oxnard in 1952. Barney and Alice remained together for 60 years until her passing in 2007.
One of Barney’s favorite things in life was the sport of boxing. Barney boxed in the Ventura area as a young man, participating in matches at the Ventura Athletic Club and the old El Rio Stadium. While serving in the USMC, he won a military Golden Gloves division title while stationed in North Carolina. Later in life, he enjoyed attending matches with his sons and always watched boxing matches on television whether they were amateurs or World Championships.
With the outbreak of WWII, Barney enlisted in the United States Marine Corp where one of his early assignments was with VMF-122 on the island of Guadalcanal from late 1942 and 1943. VMF-122 would later become known as the “Black Sheep Squadron” under the leadership of Maj. Pappy Boyington. Barney served in the USMC until his discharge as Staff Sergeant in July of 1946. He continued serving in the National Guard until the late 1950’s.
During his recent years he became involved with the Tortilla Flats Legacy, where maintaining the history of old Ventura became something very important to him. He shared stories of growing up near “the Avenue” and being a “River Rat,” spending endless hours playing along the Ventura River. He loved describing the grove of eucalyptus trees at the mouth of the river where monarch butterflies gathered by the thousands as they passed through Ventura every year.
Barney is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Seta Velasquez of Agua Dulce, Jan and Patti Quijada of Bakersfield, and Mark and Kathy Quijada of Ventura; grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Tanya Velasquez of Castaic, Lisa and Dr. Allen Levesque of Ventura, Jennifer and Shane Coburn of Bakersfield, and Michael and Leigh Quijada of San Marcos; step-grandchildren, Gretchen, Rick, Berge, and Raffi; and precious great-grandchildren, Sean, Patrick, Sara, Anna-Kate, Eric, Jessica, Matthew, Allison, Chase, Addison, Ava, Camryn, Eden, Zack, Emeline, Chloe, Harlee, Johnathan, and Celine; many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends.
The family would also like to thank Mauna Sekoma and Assisted Home Hospice for providing him with such heartfelt care.
Family and friends are invited to visiting hours Sunday May 8, 2016 from 4 to 8pm in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME, 757 E. Main Street Ventura. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday May 9, 2016 at 11am in San Buenaventura Roman Catholic Mission, Main Street, Ventura, followed immediately by interment with military honors in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Barney’s name to: Friends of the Ventura River Restoration Project – C/O Surfrider Foundation PO Box 1028 Ventura, CA 93002.