Charles Edward "Chuck" BARUS

BARUS, Charles Edward "Chuck"

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Aka "Mr. Wonderful" Chuck Barus died on January 14, 2013, following a long struggle with Alzheimer's. Chuck was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1926. A cradle Episcopalian, he was baptized at Saint Simeon's Church in Philadelphia. Later he, his wife Jean, and father Charley were confirmed together at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Lake Worth. The family moved to Lake Worth in 1943, where Chuck attended Lake Worth High School and Palm Beach Junior College. In the waning days of World War II he went to the Coast Guard Academy in St. Petersburg and worked as a merchant seaman. He traveled to Turkey and the Black Sea where his ship once got stuck and was pulled free by a Russian ice-breaker. He also spent time in Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. Following the war he worked on the Great Lakes before returning to Lake Worth to become a lifeguard at Lake Worth beach. In 1950 Chuck was drafted into the Army and served 2 years in the Boston area before returning to Lake Worth. After joining his father in the construction business, he earned his general contractor's license and built many custom family homes in Lake Worth, Lantana, Hypoluxo Island, and Point Manalapan. Shortly after his return to Lake Worth, he met his future wife Jean Martin. They were married on May 19, 1953, and lived happily together for nearly 60 years. In the early 1960's Chuck went to work for developers from Atlanta and built the first low-rise apartments on Flagler Drive: Flagler Manor, Flagler Towers, and Flagler Gardens as well as Ocean Towers on Palm Beach. In 1962 he and his brother Bob bought a small mobile home park in Greenacres. They spent the next 40 years improving and expanding Greenacres Mobile Estates, later adding a strip of stores called Silver Oaks Plaza. They sold the property in 2003 and retired. Chuck loved to travel, camp, and ski. He skied the slopes in North Carolina, Colorado, Utah, Austria, and New Zealand. Chuck is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years Jean Martin Barus, three much loved sons; Charles Martin "Chip" Barus of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Dr. Robert Stephens "Biff" Barus of Lake Worth, Arthur Louis "Art" Barus of Palm Beach National, beloved daughter-in-law Trudy Barus, wife of Art, mother of grandsons Mathew Riley Barus, a sophomore at the University of Florida and Mitchell Reid Barus, a junior at Central High School. He is survived by a granddaughter Kristin Dawn Barus, daughter of Biff. Chuck is also survived by his brother Robert Louis Barus of Lake Worth, sister-in-law Helen Martin Butler Conger (Jerry) of Tallahassee, 4 nieces; Michelle Barus Sams (Mathew), Lisa Nicole Barus (G.L. Banning), Jean Elisabeth Butler Morgan (Frank), Mary Virginia Butler Bradley (Chris Meyer), and one nephew A.P. "Bo" Butler (Lori). The family wishes to thank the dedicated staff of Arbor Oaks Assisted Living for the outstanding care they provided, especially Farah, Donna, Diane, Judy, Jan, Lisa and Karen. We would also like to thank the staff of Hospice of the Palm Beaches. The family requests no flowers but donations to your favorite charity would be appreciated. There will be a Celebration of Chuck's Life on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the family home from 1pm to 5pm. Call Jean, Biff, or Art for further information and directions.