Jack (Toby) Tobias; World War I Veteran

Jack (Toby) Tobias, a World War I veteran who once owned a chicken ranch and a drugstore in the San Fernando Valley, has died at his Sherman Oaks home. He was 99.

Tobias died Sunday of natural causes, said his son, Bill Tobias of Reseda.

Born in New York City, Tobias enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 3, 1918, and served in the United States until he was discharged Jan. 9, 1919.

He came to California in 1937 and bought a drugstore at Sunset Boulevard and Doheny Drive that was frequented by many movie stars, including actor Ronald Reagan. In 1947, he sold the store and moved to the Valley where he bought Dewey’s Ranch in Sepulveda, which had 7,000 chickens. Tobias sold poultry and eggs at the ranch until the early 1950s when he bought a drugstore in Pacoima.

He later owned a downtown Los Angeles restaurant called the Ajax Cafe until his retirement in 1970.

Tobias was a member of the Optimist Club in Sepulveda and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 603 in Studio City.

In addition to his son, Bill, Tobias is survived by his wife, Frances. The couple would have celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary Dec. 31. He is also survived by son Myron Tobias of Encino; daughter Helene Forthal of Murrieta, Calif.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral, with a firing squad from the VFW, was held Thursday at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills. Groman-Eden Mortuary in Mission Hills handled the arrangements. Donations can be made in Tobias’ name to the City of Hope and Veterans of Foreign Wars.