Valley Oaks was built on land that was owned by the American Hawaiian Land Company until it was purchased by Westlake North developer Daniel K. Ludwig. Mr. Ludwig originally envisioned the entire lot as a 182-acre memorial park but in the 1970s, he reduced the cemetery to its current size of 42 acres and sold it.

Valley Oaks opened its doors in 1967, before the reduction of the size of the park. Its original management included attorney and vice president Al J. Dietsch, director Darwin F. Dapper and sales director Richard Turgon.

Even in its inception, Valley Oaks proved to be appreciative of the local community and protective of the community’s history. In 1969, the bodies of 29 Conejo Valley pioneer residents were relocated to a special garden in Valley Oaks. The pioneers had been buried in what was called “The Old Russell Cemetery” or “The Triunfo Ranch Cemetery,” formerly located in the current city of Thousand Oaks. The Old Russell Cemetery was used from 1880 until 1926, when it was abandoned and fell into complete disuse. The new resting place of these pioneers is protected and cared for by the Valley Oaks endowment care fund to remain a landmark and a reminder of the early history of the Conejo Valley.

In addition to these preservation efforts, Valley Oaks commemorated the Conejo Valley pioneer rancher Joseph H. Russell and his impact on the Conejo Valley with a great bronze statue of the pioneer at the entrance to the garden.

Today, we are a proud member of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers. Situated on land sprinkled with century-old oak trees, Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, Mortuary and Crematory is conveniently located off Highway 101. It is centrally located to and serves the Conejo Valley, Simi Valley, the Ventura area and West San Fernando Valley.