Royal Curtis Learned passed away quietly and peacefully February 25, 2017 in Ventura, CA. Royal (Roy) was born in Lompoc, CA on April 19, 1923, the second son to George Edward Learned and Alma Sofia Learned, formerly Makkonen. Roy was raised on a chicken farm in Lompoc which produced eggs to sell to merchants throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. As with many youngsters, Roy helped out around the farm. One time Roy's father was not able to drive the truck to make deliveries due to an injury. At the age of 15 with no driver's license, Roy got up very early to start delivering eggs, driving all the way to Paso Robles and back.

Roy was active and popular in high school playing football, basketball and was even A.S.B. President as a senior. He graduated from Lompoc High School in 1941. After High School Roy attended State College, Santa Barbara, CA, completing two years. World War II came knocking and Roy joined the Army in 1943. Roy was stationed in France and Germany and was part of a fighting team of tanks, armored infantry and field artillery, the 12th Armored "Hellcat" Division. This Division played an active role in Germany, holding back Hitler's Third Reich in the final stages of the war. Roy saw and participated in his fair share of combat which earned him two Purple Hearts along with other medals.

After the war, Roy returned to California and began attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Even in High School, Roy had a friend in Jeantte LaFourcade, also a Lompoc native. He and his little "blondie", as he called her, wrote and exchanged letters throughout the war. Once he returned they fell more in love and married on June 8, 1947 while Roy was still attending Cal Poly. Once again Roy had to help his father at the farm and had to leave Cal Poly without completing his studies.

Roy and Jeanette began their family with the birth of their first son, John Roy in 1948. Following came son Thomas James in 1950, daughter Mary Jane in 1952 and daughter Judith Ann in 1956. Roy ended up having a number of jobs in Lompoc. He very much enjoyed working for General Electric at Vandenberg Air Force Base but when the company moved from Lompoc and asked him to follow he declined not wanting to move his family from Lompoc.

Roy and Janette were right not to move from Lompoc. They had great friends in Lompoc, people from High School and more. They took family vacations, celebrated Birthdays, had many many dinners, outings, excursions and exchanged a ton of stories and laughs. Roy and Janette also organized and led a number of reunions both for their High School graduating classes and the 12th Armored Division of the Army. It was not unusual for Roy to MC some of these events with his fun and keen sense of humor.
Roy was active in his community as a Volunteer Fireman with the Lompoc Fire Department. He was a member of the Elks, Lompoc Historical Society and his greatest treat Vandenberg Village Country Golf Club.

Royal is preceded in death by his parents, brother George Learned, beloved wife of 69 years Jeanette and his dear son Tommy. Roy is survived by his son John and wife Margot, daughter Janie and husband Victor and daughter Judy and husband Russell. Roy is also survived by eleven Grandchildren, six Great Grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.

Roy will always be remembered for his endless love for his wife and family. He was a hardworking man who never complained and could tell a good joke. He was respectful and only saw the best in others.

A Memorial Service for Royal will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, 123 North A Street, Lompoc, CA at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2017. A small Memorial Reception will follow.