Henry "Barney" Bernard

Henry "Barney" Bernard passed in his sleep June 26, 2006 after 97 years of life and 75 years of marriage to his first love, Shirley Bernard. Henry was born in New York in 1908 and went to school in Massachusetts. He was an adventurous and independent boy. When he was 14, he decided to travel the 3000 miles to California by himself. His best friend was so impressed by his tenacity he wrote an article about the travels of this "manly little chap". Once in Los Angeles, he started working at May Company, in the boy's department. He met his future wife while living in the same Jewish community. Shirley described her first impression of her husband as "quiet... and of course we didn't have much money to go out and do anything." Henry and Shirley made an amazing pair. With her beauty and charismatic personality and his brains for business and sense of humor, they created a family and a business that continues to expand today. Mr. Bernard saw little future or money with the May Company and decided to explore other ventures. He and his brother, David, pooled their resources in 1932, bought a truck and sold meat in the San Joaquin Valley. They went broke in 6 months. Meanwhile, Shirley and Henry were expecting their first child. They decided to move to Bakersfield and Henry took a job at the Kern Valley Packing Company. Once there, he learned what it took to effectively run a successful company. He also took on two more jobs to support his ever growing family. He worked 3 jobs for 10 years and had four children JoAnn, Elaine, Michael and Dennis. Shirley did her part at home and outside of the home. Shirley often reminded Henry, "I was out driving the truck, delivering meat with four children." When the youngest was only 5 months old, Henry decided," If I'm going to work this hard, I might as well work for myself." He soon formed the Bernard and Sons' Wholesale Meats. The once small company has expanded to Fresno and is now run by his youngest son, Dennis Bernard. The company distributes their goods throughout California; Henry went from selling meat off the back of a truck that he couldn't call his own to starting a successful and well run business. Henry was a man that will be remembered not only by his family and friends but by the hundreds of people in Bass Lake that he has helped. Many remember Henry as the "unofficial mayor of Bass Lake." He formed the Bass Lake Homeowners Association in 1991, which in turn, stopped PG&E from selling off Bass Lake property that was being leased to many Bass Lake residents and instead allowed them to buy their property, and this was after he had retired. Henry never stopped expanding his interests and helping his community. He was accepted by the Masons, and was a member of the Scottish Rite, Shriners and the Elks. Even as his body aged he never slowed down. The day before he passed he asked to sit in his chair next to his wife, age 96, and for the first time in his life he decided to rest. Surviving are his wife, Shirley Bernard; his daughter, Elaine Ninberg; his oldest son, Michael Bernard and wife, Nancy Bernard; his youngest son, Dennis Bernard and wife, Janice Bernard; and grandchildren, Paula and Wil Evans, Cindy and Bryan Hunt. Jeff and Ann Ninberg, Greg and Lori Ninberg, Philip Ninberg, Matthew Bernard, Jaime and Louie Gomez, Terra Bernard and her husband Darren Frank, Brandon Bernard; and their great- grandchildren, Angela Hunt, Amy and Josh Nicholson, Jessica and Stephanie Ninberg, and Isabella Gomez. The graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, June 29th at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Bakersfield, California with the Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein, officiating. Pallbearers are Greg Ninberg, Philip Ninberg, Matthew Bernard, and Brandon Bernard. Alternate pallbearers are Dean Jensen, Scott Ellis, Howard Silver and Fred Shorr. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Congregation B'Nai Jacob, 600 17th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or Temple Beth El, 2906 Loma Linda Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93305 Henry K. Bernard July 13, 1908 - June 26, 2006 Doughty-Calhoun-O'mera