Arthur James “A.J.” Farrar
July 27, 1945 ~ November 13, 2014
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of AJ Farrar on November 13. A member of PSWA since 1997, AJ served as vice president and membership chair of PSWA for nearly 10 years. Many of you knew AJ as the indefatigable emcee of PSWA conferences, with always a ready smile, often a corny joke and never ending encouragement to all of us to work together to help each other achieve our writing goals.
A Ventura, CA native, AJ served in the U.S. Air Force, earned multiple college degrees, retired as a lieutenant in the Ventura P.D. in 1993 and went on to teach law enforcement, retiring as a professor emeritus from Monterey Peninsula College.
AJ is survived by his wife, Nancy, PSWA treasurer, daughter Stephanie (AJ) Huber, son, Matt (Nicole) Farrar, grandson Nathan Huber and 16 nieces, nephews and their families.
AJ was a mentor to many and a friend to all. We will miss him.
Following is AJ’s “official” obituary, as was published to local Ventura newspapers:
Arthur James “A.J.” Farrar, 69, of Ventura, CA, passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2014, in Ventura, California.
A.J. Farrar was born in Ventura, CA, to Jewell and Wilfred Farrar on July 27, 1945. He graduated from Ventura High in 1963. A.J. served in the U.S. Air Force following graduation from Ventura College and went on to earn multiple degrees from Cal State Long Beach; Cal Lutheran, Thousand Oaks; and Cal Poly, Pomona.
He worked as a police officer for the Cal State University, Long Beach Police Department and the Ventura Police Department retiring as a lieutenant in 1993. A.J. later taught law enforcement at Ventura, American River and Monterey Peninsula Colleges where he retired as a Professor Emeritus.He was the Vice President of the Public Safety Writers Association.
AJ is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Stephanie (AJ) Hubner; son, Matt (Nicole) Farrar; brother, Gerald Farrar; grandson, Nathan Hubner; and sixteen nieces and nephews and their families. He is preceded in death by his father, Wilfred Farrar, mother, Jewell Farrar, brothers, Leland Stiles and Truman Stiles, sisters, Daphne McKinney, Jymmye Hitch, and Maxine Sedlacek.
A “Celebration” memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2014, 11:00 A.M., at Ventura Missionary Church, 500 High Point Drive, Ventura, CA 93003, with The Reverend Dr. Leonard Dewitt officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations payable to “Monterey Peninsula College, A.J. Farrar Scholarship Account”, 980 Fremont St., Monterey, CA 93940, Attn: Fiscal Services; or your favorite charity.
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Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.