A memorial was held at Cross City Christian church in northeast Fresno.
Magarian first joined the Fresno County Sheriff's Office in his early 20s, and became a full-time deputy sheriff in 1968.
He rose in the ranks and was elected the county's 23rd sheriff in 1987, where he stayed for three terms before retiring in 1999.
Magarian then became a part-time professor at Fresno State for 20 years.
He passed away in September at the age of 82.