Mervyn "Jim" Charles Brillhart, 79, of Ventura passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2012, at home at the Ventura Townehouse. Jim was born February 20, 1933, in Tulare to Peter and Mae (Parks) Brillhart and grew up back and forth between California and Kansas. He graduated from Pacific Grove High School, Pacific Grove in 1950, and enlisted in the Navy in 1951; where he served honorably for five years. He started out as a deckhand on the LST 735. He trained as an electronics technician and served aboard the USS Curlew during the Korean War operating the sonar during mine sweeping along the Korean coastline. He was then stationed in Yokohama, Japan, and completed his enlistment as a technical lead with the rank of First Class Petty Officer at the US Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake. Jim started his professional career as an electronics technician at the California Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He went on to work in systems analysis/programming and management at Fairchild Semiconductor, Litton Industries, Systems Development Corp (SDC), Sperry Univac, and Unisys Corp, to name a few. He retired in 2000. On Jun 10, 1962, he married Beverly Jean (Edsberg) Henderson in Reno, Nev., and together they raised three children. Beverly died of cancer on Dec 15, 1995. Three years later Jim married Beatrice "Bea" (Derks) Bailey on Apr 18, 1998, in Austin, Texas. Bea and Jim shared ten years of marriage before Bea passed away suddenly on Sep 22, 2008. Six months after moving to Ventura from Austin, Texas, Jim met Harriett (Cobb) Phillips Fremlin and they were married in a commitment ceremony on May 8, 2012. Jim was a devoted Catholic and active as a lector and usher. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and very involved with the North Central Caregivers in Austin, Texas. He enjoyed playing cards, reading, dancing, fishing, traveling, gardening, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and friends. Jim is survived by his current wife, Harriet; daughter, Tami Cook (Chris) of Ventura; son, Peter Brillhart (Shannon) of Ventura; stepson, Chris Henderson of Santa Cruz; stepson, Kevin Bailey (Elena) of Austin, Texas; grandchildren, Sara and Tyler Cook, of Ventura, and Louisa Bailey of Austin, Texas; along with the many other loved and enjoyed family members he acquired when he married Beatrice. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Peter and Mae Brillhart; brother, George Brillhart; sister, Esther Rogers Tannehill; nephews, Donald and Ronald Rogers, wife Beverly Brillhart, and wife Beatrice Brillhart. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Andrew Kerr for the extra care and compassion he provided. The family would also like to acknowledge the Ventura Townehouse for its helpful and caring staff. A funeral mass will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 3175 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA; Father Steve Correz presiding. A private family burial will follow at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo. A reception will be held at 3:45 p.m. at the Ventura Townhouse, 4900 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Ventura County Star, CA from January 4 to January 7, 2013 ........ (mst) ...............