May 2, 1928 - October 23, 2017
On October 23, 2017 Charles “Chuck” Barnard passed away peacefully at home after a brief battle with cancer.
Chuck was born in Glendale, CA, to Malcolm Bower and Goldie Martha Barnard and developed an early interest in drawing, aviation and music. Graduating from Glendale High School (1946) he majored in art at Glendale College and the Art Center in Los Angeles, was drafted into the Army (1948) and trained with the 4th Infantry Div. at Ft.Ord, CA. Following Basic Training, Chuck was shipped overseas and served as an MP on the island of Okinawa with the 524th MP Detachment. Released into the inactive reserves (Dec. 1949), he returned home and began dating Eleanor Jean Heacox, recently arrived with her family from Pennsylvania. In Sept. 1950, war erupted in Korea and he was re-called to active duty. The couple embarked on a long-distance ‘courtship-by-mail’ until he was finally discharged on November 22, 1951, and they married Dec. 15, 1951. Chuck worked as a photographer/ graphic designer for a publishing firm and “Ellie” brought three beautiful children into their lives. In 1957 the family moved to Stockton where he began to produce award-winning posters for Scott Bros., among them those for College of the Pacific and later, U.O.P. A fourth child was born in 1963 and in 1965 he moved to Ad Art, Inc., where for three decades he created electrical sign designs for the Las Vegas resort market and was named V.P.-Executive Art Director for the firm. In 1993 he authored the book, “The Magic Sign”--The Electric Art/Architecture of Las Vegas. Four notable designs of his creation include the “Vegas Vickie” Glitter Gulch sign, the Stratosphere Tower (both in Las Vegas), The Reno Arch for the City of Reno and the Superdome sign in New Orleans. As a fine artist, he received awards in both national and international exhibitions and in 2003 was awarded “Signature Membership” in the American Watercolor Society. Chuck enjoyed Dixieland jazz, was a regular contributor to the Record’s Opinion Page and in 2013 authored the fictional novel, “Cataclysm”. His greatest joys were his devoted wife Ellie and beloved family, the many cross-country trips they all made together and the painting expeditions to the north coast which the couple enjoyed in retirement. A person of faith, Chuck believed he was, of all men, most blessed.
On July 18, 2015, Ellie, his wife of 63 years, passed away quietly after ten years with Alzheimer’s. He is survived by daughter Sharon Barnard, sons Clark (and wife Dana), Jeffrey (and wife Nimol) and Charles K. Barnard (and wife Kim); grandchildren Tobi Ferdan (and husband Robert), Ryan Barnard and Ashley Echiaverria (husband David), great-granddaughters, Autumn, Zoey and Emma Echiaverria, and Aryana Barnard; brother Dr.Tom Barnard (and wife Madelyn) of Oklahoma City, Sister-in-law Dorothy Edminster (and husband Albert) of San Luis Obispo, niece Paloma Amabisca (and husband Tom) of Eugene, Oregon, and nephews Stephen Douglas of Portland and Robert Edminster of Lake Tahoe.
SERVICES
Funeral Services for Charles Barnard will be held Saturday November 4th, at 11:00 am in Vineyard Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park.