Wallace Barringer; Retired Oil Lease Operator

Wallace Barringer, an Oklahoma native who worked in the oil fields north of Ojai, died Friday at Ventura’s Victoria Care Center of complications from a stroke. He was 72.

Barringer lived in Ventura County 19 years, much of it spent as an oil lease operator for Oryx Energy Co.

Born Oct. 3, 1924, in Ada, Okla., Barringer served in the Navy during World War II. After a tour of duty that included the Philippines, he returned to Oklahoma and worked as a butcher. Barringer later moved to California and opened his own meat market in San Fernando.

He stayed with Oryx for 20 years, managing other oil workers, tending to the fields’ machinery. Barringer retired in 1984.

His passions included bowling, country music and dancing, his wife, Lillian Barringer said.

Other survivors include daughter Virginia Guerrero of Ventura; son Bernard Guerrero of Falls Church, Va.; sisters Sylvia Jones of Vallejo and Mary Genga of Stratford, Conn.; and brother Eddie Barringer of Ada.

Services will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura. Burial will follow in South Lake Tahoe, where the family has property. Ted Mayr Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Assn., Ventura County Chapter, 3460 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010-2229, or to the Arthritis Foundation, Ventura County Branch, 400 Mobile Ave., Camarillo, CA 93010.