Obituaries : * Dick M. Woolery; Distributor for The Times

Dick M. Woolery, a Los Angeles Times distributor and Ojai resident, died Friday at the age of 66.

Woolery was born March 11, 1929, in Omaha, Neb.

As a young Marine, Woolery fought in the Korean War and was twice decorated with the Purple Heart. Although he left the Corps in 1952, Woolery often talked of his experiences and service with pride, said his wife, Nancy Woolery.

“He was only in for four years, but I tell you, he never stopped being a Marine,” she said.

After his discharge, Woolery tried several different jobs. He also took art classes, hoping to become a commercial artist. He enjoyed drawing and sketching but soon decided the field did not pay enough to support a family, Nancy Woolery said.

In 1957, the couple moved to Denver where Dick Woolery went to work for the circulation department of the Denver Post. They moved several times over the years as Dick Woolery took jobs at different papers, one in Oklahoma City and another in Sacramento.

They moved to Camarillo in 1986 and finally settled in Ojai in 1988, the same year that Woolery began working for The Times as an independent distributor.

Outside work, Woolery belonged to the Camarillo Rotary Club. He also enjoyed sports and spending time along the ocean.

Other survivors include his son, Michael, of Ojai; sons and daughters-in-law Steven and Katherine Woolery of Cameron Park, and Mark and Cathy Woolery of Santa Clara, and daughter and son-in-law Linda and Scott Worthan, of Suisun. He is also survived by eight grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Clausen Funeral Home in Ojai.

Gray, Betty J., 65, of Thousand Oaks, claims processor for Blue Cross. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Heglin, Harold A., 82, of Simi Valley, gas station owner. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Mehlman, Isabella Marie, 85, of Thousand Oaks, homemaker. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Nicholson, Wendell Warren, 56, of Newbury Park, computer programmer. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

O’Neil, James Joseph, 37, of Simi Valley, tire changer for Tire City. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Plummer, Eleanor Lorraine, 82, of Ventura, retired teacher with the Ventura Unified School District. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Williams, Agnes H., 82, of Ventura, homemaker. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.