Edward B. Elrod

Edward Bruce Elrod passed away unexpectedly, due to natural causes, early Monday morning, Oct. 7th at his residence in Ventura California.  He had just celebrated his 65th birthday.  

Ed was born in Kittery Maine in 1954.  His family moved from Maine to Camarillo, California in the spring of 1959.  He attended Las Posas Elementary School, Los Altos Junior High School, and graduated from Adolfo Camarillo High School in 1972.  He was a loveable, goofy guy who was voted most popular in his high school graduating class.  He studied at the University of California, San Diego and graduated with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry in 1977.  His junior year he studied abroad in Göttingen, Germany.  This experience expanded his knowledge of the German language and was something he maintained throughout his life.  He continued his interest in language and learned Spanish and dabbled in many other languages including American Sign Language.  After graduation Ed met his life partner Kent Weigel and moved back to Ventura County joining him in managing the Ventura Bookstore.  They expanded their business adding the Ojai Table of Contents bookstore in the late 90’s.  Ed lost Kent in 1999.  That led to the closure of the bookstores.  Ed went on to study law passing the bar at age 57 (quite an accomplishment!)  He opened his own practice in Ventura in November of 2011.  During his life he was very involved in both the visual and performing art community.  He was also very interested in music and was the first president of the Chamber Music Festival.  Ed was also an avid supporter of the Diversity Collective of Ventura County, not only a volunteer, but also as their legal counsel.  Ed was a strong advocate for gay rights and volunteered in the annual AIDS Life Cycle 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles as often as possible.

Ed was preceded in death by his life partner, Kent Weigel of Fort Hays, KS who died in February of 1999.  His father James Richard Elrod of Americus, GA died in 2012 in St. Marie, MT and his mother Edna Josephine Elrod of New York City died on September 21st, 2019 in Nashville, TN.  He is survived by his older siblings James Patrick Elrod of Nashville, TN; Elizabeth Ann Baker of Pleasant Hill, CA; Donna Jane Hunt of Penngrove, CA; and John Matthew Elrod of Denver, CO; as well as three nieces, and six nephews, and three grand nieces and nephews.  

A celebration of Ed's life is planned for 4:30 p.m., Saturday, November 2, 2019, Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St, Ventura, CA 93001.

Condolences may be submitted to Channel Island Funeral Service, Ventura California.

If you would like to make a donation in Ed’s memory, his family can suggest:

    The Kent Weigel Scholarship Fund, Ventura County Community Foundation
    The Humane Society
    Or, one of the many organizations he volunteered at

Otto & Son's, Channel Islands, Funeral Directors, Ventura, CA

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