* John G. Ovens; Retired Bakersfield Officer

John G. Ovens, a retired Bakersfield police officer, died Friday at his Ventura home, of skin cancer. He was 77.

He was born July 13, 1921, in Toronto and served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

Ovens was an avid pilot who was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Assn.

“He got his license about 1936 back in Miami,” said his wife of 56 years, Marjorie Ovens. “He had been flying on and off ever since. . . . He just loved the freedom [of flying].”

Ovens sold his Cessna aircraft when he retired in 1972 after a 23-year career with the Bakersfield Police Department.

“You can’t retire and travel and own an airplane,” said Marjorie Ovens. “We used to spend six months of the year in Mexico.”

The couple spent the past 14 years living in Ventura County during the summer and wintering in San Carlos, where Ovens indulged his love of sea fishing.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law Ketti and Rod Baehr of Ventura and Bonnie and Dale Willhite of Gig Harbor, Wash.; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Guardian Memorial Funeral Directors and Crematory, Oxnard.

Blythe, Juanita Margaret, 85, of Oxnard, retired assembler for Northrop. Camino del Sol Funeral Home, Oxnard.

McLoud, Minnie B., 94, of Thousand Oaks, homemaker. Pierce Bros. Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.

Salazar, Nicolas Lopez, 75, of Oxnard, retired foreman. Camino del Sol Funeral Home, Oxnard.

Sheldon, Carole Louise, 75, of Camarillo, dog-sitter. Sunset Plan Cremation, Ventura.

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