Bill C. Bernhardt (1943-2011)
(Bill was the son of William Crawford and Bertice Drake Bernhardt, grandson of Ira Leo Bernhardt.)
Bill C. Bernhardt, 68, passed away September 24, 2011 at his residence here in Panama City with his family by his side.
Bill was born in Salisbury, North Carolina to the late William C. Bernhardt and Bertice I. Drake in February of 1943.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 26 years, receiving many ribbons and awards for his duties, also being a Vietnam veteran, a model aircraft builder of scale models and an avid giver of blood to the American Red Cross. He moved to the Panama City area in 1988 after retiring from the United States Air Force.
Survivors include his wife of 16 years Cathy Bragg Bernhardt of Panama City, Florida; two sons Michael C. Bernhardt and his wife Mary of Panama City, Florida, Daryl R. Bernhardt and his wife Diane of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two daughters Renee Cumbie and her husband Andy, Michelle Broadway and her husband Randy of Panama City, Florida; one brother Gary Bernhardt and his wife Carol, a sister Brenda Lowder and her husband Johnny of North Carolina; eight grand children and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Bernhardt will be held at Southerland Family Funeral Home on Tuesday September 27 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Virgil Tillman officiating. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Monday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Honorary Pallbearers for MSgt (ret) Bernhardt will be Robbie Roberson, Fred Padgett, Richard Bentley, Bill Blake, Dean Holliday, and Jay Goss.
In lieu of flowers the Bernhardt family request that donations be made to Covenant Hospice or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Bill's memory.
