Curtis Eugene ThriftSomis, CACurtis Eugene "Gene" Thrift of Somis, California passed away Wednesday, August 23, 2017. He was 96. Gene was blessed with a long and full life, truly one of the "Greatest Generation". Born to humble beginnings, he grew up during the Great Depression, survived World War II, worked his way through college, raised a family, and cofounded a successful business that continues to thrive to this day. Gene was born on October 13, 1920 to Charles Curtis Thrift and Velma Ward Thrift in Itasca, Texas. He was the oldest of 5 children born to this union. In 1923 he and his mother and new baby sister Loraine moved to the Bill Lagomarsino Ranch outside Ventura, California to join his father who had found work there as a tenant farmer. Three years later they moved next door to the Edmund Gerry Ranch that was directly across Telegraph Road from where Ventura College is today. They continued to live and work there until after World War II. Gene attended the old Mound School, (located just east of the ranch on Telegraph Road), Ventura Junior High School, and Ventura High School, graduating in 1938. He continued on to Ventura Junior College, which at that time was located on the same campus as the High School. There he met his future wife Judith Greenamyre at a joint school function, "Hello Day". While at VJC he played on the baseball team and was a member of the 1939 Championship squad. He graduated from VJC in June 1940.In the fall of 1940 Gene transferred to the University of California at Berkeley, where he again played on the baseball team. His time at Cal was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II and he returned to Ventura to enlist in the Army Air Corps in 1942. On his 23rd birthday, October 13, 1943 he married Judith Greenamyre. Gene and Judy lived in Wrightwood while Gene continued training at the bombardier school at Victorville Army Air Field. He was commissioned in early 1944 as a 2nd Lieutenant and served as a bombardier navigator aboard the B-25 Bomber. Then it was off to San Marcos, Texas for additional navigation training and Greenville, South Carolina for final combat training. In the late summer of 1945 his squadron of B-25's mobilized in Salinas, California, and was on schedule for deployment to the South Pacific when the first Atomic Bomb was dropped on Japan. After the second A-Bomb was dropped their squadron returned to Greenville where Gene was ordered back to California for discharge. After the war, Gene and Judy returned to the ranch in Ventura to work with his father and save for the future. In the fall of 1949 they along with their 2 year old son Jim, moved north to Richmond, California so Gene could finish his education at the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated in June 1951 with a B.S. in accounting with honors. Gene, Judy and 4-year-old Jim returned to Ventura where they moved in to a new house on Encanto Street, near Will Rogers School. Gene began a new career in accounting and his family continued to grow with the addition of another son Bill in 1952 and a daughter Janet in 1956. Gene completed the requirements for a C.P.A. and shortly thereafter cofounded the accounting firm of Vance, Thrift & Biller. The firm grew and prospered through the years and is recognized today as one of the premier accounting firms in the Ventura area. His son Bill joined the firm in the mid 1970's and remained there until his retirement in 2016. Although Gene's official "retirement" was in 1987 he continued to play an active role with the firm for years. Gene was an avid hunter and fisherman (skills learned as a boy while helping to provide for his family during the depression) as well as a fanatical golfer. He and Judy were active members of the Saticoy Country Club since joining in 1947. He was a long time member of the Ventura County Game Preserve and continued duck hunting as well as golfing right up through his 80's when mobility issues forced him to quit. Gene was predeceased by his 3 sisters, Lorraine Martin, Bernice "Bunsie" Robinson, and Louise Brewer, his wife of 63 years Judith in 2006, and his oldest grandson Matthew James Thrift in 2011. He is survived by his brother Wayne Thrift (wife Vicki), sons James Thrift (wife Kathleen), William Thrift (wife Patty), daughter Janet King (husband Robert), granddaughter in-law Kristen Thrift, grandsons Mark Thrift (wife Jennie), Douglas Thrift, Allen Thrift, Charlie Thrift, Brian King (wife Michelle), Christopher King (wife Alison), great grandson Zachary Matthew Thrift and great granddaughters MacKenzie King and Elizabeth King. Gene or "Granddad" as his family affectionately knew him, was blessed in his last years by the arrival of three great grandchildren who became the highlight and joy of his life. Gene was a kind and generous man who rose above his circumstances. He served as an outstanding role model for his family and was a highly respected member of the local community. He will be genuinely missed.The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the caregivers and staff at Bright Star Care, Livingston Memorial Hospice Care, and Ventura Post Acute for their efforts in making Granddad's last weeks as comfortable and pain free as possible. Per his request no formal services will be held.In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in Gene's name to the Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association (LMVNA), 1996 Eastman Ave., #101, Ventura, CA 93003-5768, (805) 642-0239.