Charles "Charlie" Beard

Charles E. Beard was born in Gainesville, Texas on December 27, 1938 and passed away surrounded by family and friends on May 21, 2016 in Bakersfield, California from mesothelioma. Charlie is survived by his wife of 42 years, Virgie, and four daughters, Jennifer and husband Wes Jackson, Maxine and husband Charlie Comfort, Shelly and husband Michael Walters, and Christi and husband Kevin Page; 12 grandchildren, Scott, Lynsey, Tyler, Tucker, Kayli, Chase, Christina, Nicole, Chauna, Rafe, Derek and Colton, 10 great grandchildren; sisters, Norweita Cook and Bunny Wilson; brother, Kenneth Beard, nieces, nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Toy and Lola Beard, sisters, Lois Mowery, Evelyn Rogers, Billie Ryan, Oleta Harris, Ann Nunez and brothers, Tony and Halton Beard. After high school, Charlie served in the Navy from 1955 to 1959. Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, he began his well servicing career. He started Beard Production in March 1967 and changed the name to General Production Service ("GPS") a year later. Together with his wife Virgie, they purchased many businesses: Hayter Trucking (1974), Midway Completion & Drilling Fluids (1976) formed, a partnership in Herko Pump (1980), co-founded Taft National Bank where Charlie was the Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1983 to 2003, Virco Ready Mix (1987) and Southwest Ready Mix (1991). During his first retirement in 1992, they traveled across the country, stopped in Branson, Missouri and formed three new corporations. Upon returning home in 1994, they became partners with Bill and Toni Smith and developed Buena Vista Estates. Westside Economic Development, LLC was formed with Bob Hampton and Bob Colston and 2008 they formed a partnership with Dave Noerr for the Taft Industrial Park. In 2011, Charlie made Rusty Risi a partner in GPS. In 2012, Charlie went out to purchase a suite at the Kern County Raceway Park which was under construction and recognized additional assistance would be needed to finish the project. Upon completion, Kern County Raceway Park has become one of the premier racing facilities in the country, drawing drivers from across the nations. Charles has employed thousands of people in many business and often said that his success that attributed to surrounding himself with great employees. Charlie Beard had a way to quickly make things happen. He has been a core figure in his community for many years sustaining Taft Oildorado Day's celebrations, the Oil Workers Monument, Little League Baseball, Camp Condor and the annual bicycle giveaway. Charlie has been a quiet partner in supporting many other projects that he recognized as needing help. Charlie enjoyed hunting, fishing on his boat the "Apple Martini", refurbishing antique cars and making things happen. As special thank you to Dr. Rasham Sandhu and Deanna Salyards for their excellent care and loving compassion. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society or Camp Out for Cancer in memory of Charlie Beard.

A Memorial Funeral Service will be held in the Westside Believers Fellowship Church, located at 101 Hwy 33, Taft, CA, on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. Visitation will be held in the Erickson & Brown Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A private burial will be in the West Side District Cemetery, Taft.

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