C. Bernard Dare, 87 of Abingdon, died Tuesday morning, December 6, 2016 at his home.He was born June 12, 1929 in Monterey, Illinois the son of Clarence L. and Mary E. Jackson Dare. He married Carol Dene Foster on July 6, 1952 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Canton. She preceded him in death on March 5, 2015. He was also preceded in death by his parents, one son, Daniel C. Dare, and two brothers, Lawrence and Harold.
Bernard is survived by one son, David F. (Jacque Arthur) Dare of Avon; one daughter-in-law, Kathy (Larry) Leady of London Mills; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and three on the way; one brother, Gale Dare of Canton; and one sister, Melba Ross of Bend, Oregon.
He attended Walnut Grade School and graduated from Canton High School in 1947. He served in the Army from 1950 to 1952 in the 25th Division, 65th Combat Engineers during the Korean War. He worked at Caterpillar from 1947 to 1951 as a maintenance welder. He was a farmer and began farming in the Yates City area in 1953. From 1959 to 2001 he farmed in the St. Augustine and Abingdon areas.
Bernard was a member and former trustee of the Abingdon United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Farm Bureau for over 50 years, a member of the Knox County Cattlemen’s Association and was a 4-H leader for the Southwestern 4-H club for 15 years.
Celebration of life service and military rites will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 10, 2016 at the Abingdon United Methodist Church, 401 N. Washington St., in Abingdon. Rev. Nancy Wilson will officiate and military rites will be conducted by the Harry E. Wiles American Legion Post #381. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Cremation will be accorded following the services with private burial of Bernard and Carol’s ashes in the White Chapel Memory Gardens in Canton at a later date. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Abingdon Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Abingdon United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
