TransCounty Title Co. can trace its history back to August 27, 1969 when William Chiburis and Bob Stonum opened First Merced Title Co. with an office located at 630 West Nineteenth Street, Merced, California, just across the street from our present location of 635 West Nineteenth Street.

Bob Ayers was hired on as a Title Searcher in 1972. Having recently retired as a Chief Master Sergeant after serving a combined 27 years in the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, Bob and his wife Evie had not yet purchased their first home. And, like most people who enter into the Title Insurance industry, he didn’t even know what a Title Searcher was or did. But, he caught on.

Business flourished and on March 1, 1977 Transamerica Title Insurance Company purchased the Merced County operation from First Merced Title Co. Bob was promoted to County Manager on July 1, 1977.

Business continued to grow and as a result in December of 1977 an escrow branch office was opened in Atwater, California, and another in Los Banos, California, in February of 1978. The main office grew as well and relocated to its present location in August of 1980.

Bob and Evie purchased the Merced County operation from Transamerica Title Insurance Company on June 14, 1985, and together, they created TransCounty Title Co.

Bob passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at 93 years young. Evie still owns the company today, with daughter Peg Larson as the company President.

TransCounty Title Co. is Merced County’s only locally owned Title Company, and proud of it!