* Ralph H. Schaffer; Longtime Elks, VFW Member

Apartment building owner Ralph Hugo Schaffer, 80, of Oxnard has died.

A Camarillo native, Schaffer was born on a ranch and attended grammar school at the old Ocean View School on Hueneme Road before graduating from Oxnard High School in 1934.

He worked on several Ventura County ranches and later became circulation manager for the now-defunct Oxnard Press-Courier. He helped many of his carriers get their first bicycles.

In 1943, Schaffer left the paper to join the Air Force. He was discharged in 1945 after serving in Europe.

A 60-year member of the Elks, he was known for driving the “old off-set car” in parades for the organization.

Schaffer was a 48-year member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and served as a VFW executive officer for nine years.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping.

Catherine, his wife of 21 years, said he “was gruff, but had a soft heart. If someone was sick and needed help, he was the first to be there.”

In addition to his wife, Schaffer is survived by his sister, Nellie Bowen.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at James A. Reardon Mortuary, Oxnard. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.