Bernard M. Fauber

1922 - 2018

Bernard M. Fauber September 18, 1922 - March 18, 2018 Pauma Valley Bernard M. (Ben) Fauber's career reads like a screenplay version of the American dream. In1941, a hard-working farm boy from the hills of Amherst, VA found a job in nearby Lynchburg as a stock boy during the Great Depression. There, he joined the S.S. Kresge Company (later becoming the Kmart Corporation) and rung-by-rung he climbed the corporate ladder.In December, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S Navy and served for the duration of the war. Much of his service was as a member of CASU 11 at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. After being discharged as an AMM 1/C in 1945, he returned to the Kresge Company as a management trainee, assistant manager, then as a manager of two Kresge stores and district manager. As regional vice president in Los Angeles, he oversaw the opening more than 300 Kmarts in his eleven-state region.In 1977, he was elected to the Board of Directors and named Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Kmart. He became Vice Chairman in 1979 and was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1980. During his tenure, Kmart became the world's second largest retailer, increasing sales at a substantially higher rate than the industry in general.After retirement in September of 1987, Ben and his wife, Darlene, moved to Ojai, CA. On a lovely farm, they raised Morgan horses and cultivated apple orchards. Soon, wanderlust had them on the move to Rancho Mirage, CA and Sun Valley, ID. In between, they spent time travelling in a Prevost Coach seeing much of the USA. In 1998 another move to Escondido, CA was necessary to care for their daughter, Lori, who passed away in 2006.In due time, they moved to Pauma Valley, CA and joined a beautiful and welcoming country club and golf course. It is still their home.Ben was very active philanthropically in every community in which he lived: grateful for his life and success and wanting to "give back." He has been recognized by many institutions and charities, with "Virginian of the Year" in 1985 being a particular favorite. In retirement, he served on many Boards of Directors including Texas Instruments, Berry College in Rome, GA and Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA.Good health prevailed until 2015 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which along with cancer took his life on March 18, 2018 at the age of 95. He is survived by his wife or 47 years, Darlene; sons Bernard, Jr. (Pete), Wayne, and James Chestnut; granddaughter Laurel Weaver (husband Robert); two great grandchildren, Abigail and Samuel; and grandsons Christopher and Andrew Chestnut. Out of a family of seven children, he is survived by his youngest brother Fred Fauber (wife Dolores) of Lynchburg, VA.A celebration of life will be held at Pauma Valley Country Club, 15835 Pauma Valley Dr., Pauma Valley CA, 92061 on Sunday, April 15th at 1:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Alzheimer's San Diego, 6632 Conroy Court, San Diego, CA 92111.