L. Ron Hubbard spent the remaining years of his life solely on his boat.
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard ( March 13 , 1911 -- January 24 , 1986 ) , better known as L. Ron Hubbard ( [ ɛl_rɒn_ˈhʌˌbərd ] ) and often referred to by his initials , LRH , was an American author and the founder of the Church of Scientology . The last few months of his active service were spent in a hospital , being treated for a duodenal ulcer . During the late 1960s and early 1970s , he spent much of his time at sea on his personal fleet of ships as `` Commodore '' of the Sea Organization , an elite inner group of Scientologists . He spent the remaining years of his life on his ranch , the `` Whispering Wind , '' near Creston , California , where he died in 1986 .