| Notes |
- Charles Conrad Binard
March 9, 1917 April 18, 2011
Charles was born in Burlington Colorado. He was the eighth of ten children born to his parents, Henry and Florence. His father was a dry land farmer at that time but, after drought and a failed attempt to become a horse breeder, the farm was lost while Charles was still a child. Charles relocated with his parents to Arvada where his father briefly tried to grow strawberries. Charles' father and older brothers soon took jobs at Alexander Film & Aircraft in Englewood, and then relocated when that company moved to Colorado Springs. Charles' primary duty during his teen years was baking bread to feed his large family.
Charles met Catherine Conklin while attending a high school play. Despite the hardships of the great depression, the two courted during high school and then married after Catherine's graduation in the autumn of 1935. In his own words, Charles recalled that Catherine was, "The prettiest girl I'd ever seen."
In the summer of 1936, Charles and Catherine were blessed with their first child, Donald, and shortly thereafter their second child, Sharon (1938). In 1938, Charles and Catherine relocated to Denver and bought a home on St. Paul Street, north of the Natural History Museum.
Charles was called to serve in the Pacific theater during the Second World War, with the 746th Engineer Base Equipment Company of the U.S. Army. Stationed in the Philippines, Charles' service lasted from March of 1945, through October of 1946. He left military service with the rank of Staff Sergeant, a remarkable advancement given the brief length of his duty. Like many of his fellow World War II veterans, Charles did not often speak of his wartime experiences other than to make it very clear that much of that experience was extremely unpleasant. He did, however, fondly speak of keeping a pet monkey while serving overseas.
Charles returned safely from the war, and worked as a bus driver. His career later turned to the retail industry and he began working for Fontius Shoes, located in the heart of downtown Denver at Welton and 16th streets. During this time Charles was also blessed with two more lovely daughters: Dianne (1949) and Debrah (1951). More space was needed to accommodate the expanding family, so Charles and Catherine moved away from the city to a new home west of Denver near Kipling Street and Alameda Avenue. In early 1961, Charles and Catherine took a "second honeymoon" trip to visit their grown son Don, a naval aviator stationed in Hawaii. Later that same year Charles and Catherine were blessed with another son, Robert.
After Fontius Shoes closed its doors permanently, Charles began working for Regal Shoes. He managed stores in downtown Denver, and later at Villa Italia mall in Lakewood, and Cinderella City mall in Englewood. Charles eventually retired from Regal Shoes at age 65.
Charles enjoyed gardening and fishing as hobbies during his lengthy retirement. He loved the mountains, and enjoyed numerous day trips and camping with his children. He and Catherine also enjoyed trips to the Santa Fe Opera, as well as a trip to Cancun, Mexico, where they visited Mayan ruins and beaches. They immensely enjoyed their beloved Wirehaired Fox Terriers, and for many years Charles and Catherine bred, trained, and showed pure-bred Wirehaired Fox Terriers.
During his long life, Charles was tested by fate on many occasions. He endured the great depression, World War II, and the deaths of his parents and all but one of his siblings. Although Charles endured many hardships during his lifetime, the most painful challenges of his life were the death of his third child, Dianne (who succumbed to cancer on Christmas Day in 1997), and the death of his wife, Catherine (who succumbed to cancer in March of 2009). Charles had remained married to Catherine for his entire adult life, 73 years, through thick and thin.
Charles endured health problems in his later years. Last September he suffered devastating hip and arm fractures in a fall while visiting a small town in the mountains. Against all odds, Charles worked very hard during the last months of his life to recover so he could return to his beloved home. Through his force of will and determination, he recovered enough to enjoy time at home. He remained in amazingly good spirits throughout his difficulties.
In all cases of hardship, whether they involved personal illness or grievous loss, Charles always seemed to recover and persevere. He was resilient, fiercely independent, and a tenacious fighter.
On April 18, 2011five weeks after his 94th birthdayCharles finally succumbed to a combination of health problems. Charles passed away at his home of 56 years as he wished to, while surrounded by the love of several children and grandchildren.
Charles is survived by a sister, four children, five grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great grandchildren. Charles is greatly missed by all who knew him.
Donations in Charles' memory may be made to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: www.mskcc.org; (212)639-2000; 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021.
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1917 - 2011 (94 years)
