A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Name: Harry D Barnum; Birth Date: 30 Oct 1928; Gender: Male; Mother's Maiden Name: Ellis; Birth County: El Dorado.
From the Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, Alaska, April 15, 2009: Harry David Barnum Jr., 80, of Valdez, died March 1, 2009, due to complications of pneumonia, at Regional Medical Center in El Centro, Calif., where he and wife Thelma spend their winters.
Harry was born Oct. 30, 1928, in Placerville, Calif., to Harry David Sr. and Blodwyn Barnum. At the age of 17, he and his family moved to Alaska. He served in the U.S. Navy until 1950.
After the Navy, Harry began a career in fine cuisine, leading him to own and operate many restaurants in Anchorage including Blondies Cafe, The Union Club and The Red Ram. Taking their young family to Hawaii in 1967, Harry and his wife Jane opened a restaurant in Waianae, the Port O' Call Inn, for five years.
Returning to Alaska in 1973, Harry leased the Kodiak Inn Restaurant in Kodiak for a few years before heading to Valdez to lease the Sheffield House Restaurant during the construction of the Alaska Pipeline.
Semi-retirement for Harry and Jane meant traveling to winter havens where they could park their fifth wheeler, play some golf and pull a few shifts at the local resort. Harry did come out of retirement in 1986 to open his last restaurant in Arizona, The Lighthouse.
His family wrote: "After being widowed in 1995, Harry was blessed with another love. He and Thelma Christoffersen were married on Oct. 11, 1998, in Gresham, Ore. This union makes "Cheaper by the Dozen" pales in comparison. Harry brought six kids and many grandkids to the table, and Thelma has 10 kids and many grandkids. As was Harry's way, the more the merrier. His open arms were big enough for all. His easy smile, loud laughter, loving eyes and whistling tunes will be missed by all. He was a charter member of the Valdez Elks Lodge 2537.
He is survived by a large extended family: wife Thelma Barnum; 40 grandchildren, 20 great-grand-children; children, Cindy and Anthony Compehos of Valdez, Debbie and Bruce Swain of California, Harry D. III and Susan Barnum of Valdez, Becky and Jeff Wilcox of Oregon, Jeanne and Sean Maughan of Anchorage, Pamela York of Oregon; brother, William Barnum; sisters, Pat Kruger and Diane Holman;
Thelma's children: Fred Christoffersen, Carol Christoffersen, Glenna Hill, Dan Christoffersen, Ken Christoffersen, Brenda Christoffersen, Christine Pulis, Jessie Christoffersen, Carrie Stock, Tim Christoffersen; and many nieces and nephews.
Harry was preceded in death by his second wife, Jane.
From the Imperial Valley Press: Harry Barnum Jr., 80, of Valdez, AK passed away of natural causes Sunday, March 1, 2009 at El Centro Regional Medical Center.
He was born October 30, 1928 in Placerville, CA. Harry lived in Oregon until he was 17 then he and his family moved to Alaska. He served in the U.S. Navy until 1950 before going into the restaurant business. He owned restaurants in Alaska, Hawaii and Arizona. Harry was married to Thelma Barnum on October 12, 1998 in Gresham, OR. He will be deeply missed by a large and extended family. He leaves behind 40 grandchildren and 20 great- grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Blodwyn Barnum and his late wives, Jane Barnum and Betsy Barnum.
Harry is survived by his children, Cindy Compehos, Debbie Swain, Becky Wilcox, Harry David Barnum III, Jeanne Maughan and their spouses and Pam York; brother, William Barnum and his spouse; sisters, Patricia Kruger and her spouse and Diane Holman and many loving nieces and nephews.
Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, March 4 at 2 p.m. at 1st Church of Nazarene in El Centro with Pat Drainville officiating.
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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