James Weblemoe

James Leland Weblemoe Ojai, CA. James Leland Weblemoe, April 1, 1918 – February 2, 2011, entered life eternal after a brief but difficult battle with cancer. James was born in Northwood, Iowa and from there moved to Fairbury, Nebraska. He was married to his beloved wife, Helen Johnson Weblemoe, for 66 years. He is survived by his five children, David Weblemoe of Simi Valley, Linnea (husband Dean) Smith of Chapel Hill, NC, Jill (Husband Raymond) Olsen of Citrus Heights, CA, Jane Weblemoe of Camarillo, and Anne (husband Sal) Lucido of Ojai. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, their spouses, and four great grandchildren. James was named as a Living Treasure of Ojai in 2010. He was an active volunteer and spent countless hours working at the West Campus of Help of Ojai. In 2008 he was honored to go to Washington D. C. and receive the MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Award. He was an alumnus of Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska. He completed his graduate work in physics at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He returned to teach physics and math at Midland for several years. His teaching was interrupted by a tour of duty in the Navy during World War Two. He then helped run the family sand and gravel company back in Fairbury. A new chapter in his life began when he moved his family to California in 1958. He worked as a physicist in civil service at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory in Corona until he was transferred to Pt. Mugu in 1970 (and established his residence in Ojai). He retired at the age of 72 and stayed active and involved in many groups and local activities. He is a long time member of the Optimist Club, Retired Business Men’s Club, IEEE, and Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Help of Ojai. Services are still to be determined, but will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Assisting the family with funeral arrangements is the Ojai Valley Funeral Services.