Charles Berger

1936 - 2016

HARLAN - Charles W. (Charlie) Berger, age 80, passed away on the fourteenth day of March, 2016 at The Breckinridge in Lexington, Kentucky, where he was surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 12, 1936 in Harlan, Kentucky to Benjamin Southard Berger and Rebecca Ethington Berger, Charlie grew up in the Mary Helen coal mining community at Coalgood, Kentucky. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1954, and then he attended Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro, Georgia for two years. Always a people person and interested in new things, Charlie took a course or two at the University of Georgia, and he even took a two-week summer course in how to drive semi-trailer trucks. (Obviously, his father was a saint!) He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BS in Business and then from the University of Tennessee with a Law Degree; however, he never gave up his love for his University of Kentucky Wildcats. In 1961 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Charlie married the love of his life, Joyce Jones. They were happily married for fifty-four years, and their loving devotion to each other has been an example for us all. Beginning his law career in private practice in Harlan in 1962, Charlie would later join his beloved brother, Robert Berger, in his law practice in Pineville, Kentucky in 1976, practicing in both Harlan and Pineville until his retirement in 2004. Under Governor Wendell Ford, Charlie served on the Kentucky Public Service Commission for four years. In 1979, he was elected to the Kentucky State Senate, where he served for seventeen years. His Senate colleagues elected Charlie as Assistant President Pro Tempore, and then later elected him as President Pro Tempore. He treasured the friendships of his fellow legislative colleagues, friends, and legislative staff. Charlie was a lifelong member of the Harlan Baptist Church, where one of his favorite things was his Sunday School class. The precious men in that class were some of his closest friends--friends who loved, respected, and continued to watch over him when they were needed. Charlie was also a former member of the Kiwanis and Toastmasters clubs, an active member of the Sons of the Confederacy, and always a Harlan Green Dragon. He enjoyed taking care of his land, gardening, raising dogs, fox hunting, and raising roosters. Both the Public Service Commission and the Kentucky State Senate awarded Charlie with distinguished service. He was also inducted into the Harlan Green Dragon Hall of Fame in 2012. Preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin and Rebecca Berger and sister-in-law, Mina Berger, Charlie is survived by his beloved spouse, Joyce, of Harlan; two daughters: Robin (Steven) Magnani of Harlan, and Betsy (Chet) Williams of Huntsville, Alabama; three grandchildren: Lexie, Christian, and Caroline Magnani of Harlan; one brother: Robert Berger of Lexington, Kentucky; two sisters-in-law: Diane (Harold) Turner, London, and Janet (Claude) Wilson, Harlan; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind a loyal and true group of wonderful friends--even so much as ending his journey on this earth with his lifelong friend, Ronald Ross. Charlie's visitation will be held at the Harlan Baptist Church on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 from 12 noon until 2pm. Funeral services will begin at 2pm with Dr. John Ditty and Dr. Roy Lucas officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery. We will never forget the loving care provided by The Breckinridge in Lexington. They not only took wonderful care of Charlie, but they also took wonderful compassionate care of his family during those last difficult days. We would be remiss if we did not thank Sandy Kinner, Ann Varney, Randy Fultz, Diane Helton, Kim Ealey, and Breanna Ealey for their kindness and dedication in caring for him before he became a resident of The Breckinridge. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harlan Baptist Church, 102 W. Mound Street, Harlan, KY 40831; The Breckinridge, 2109 Cornerstone Drive, Lexington, KY 40509; or The Lewy Body Association, Inc., Killian Hill Rd, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047. Harlan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Berger family during this time. www.harlanfuneralhome.com