Bernard Charles Irwin Jr., 82, known as BC or Chuck, of Pinetop-Lakeside, peacefully passed away at home on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the First Baptist Church of Pinetop, located at 1901 E. White Mountain Blvd.
He was born to the late Bernard Charles and Lucille Frances (Freese) Irwin Nov. 19, 1933, in Columbus, Ohio.
BC met his childhood sweetheart, Marjorie Jean Beck, during junior high school, and they married on Feb. 5, 1953. They enjoyed 31 wonderful years of marriage before her passing in June 1984. He then married Antoinette Gail Eff on March 22, 1985, at First Baptist Church of Pinetop.
He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, and served honorably in Northern Africa during the Korean Conflict. He was a trooper for the Arizona Highway Patrol, which became the Arizona Department of Public Safety, for 21 years before his retirement. While on the Highway Patrol, he single-handedly apprehended and arrested a Top 10 FBI fugitive near Wickenburg in 1961. For that action, which he called his big arrest, he received a letter of commendation from FBI Chief J. Edgar Hoover.
Following his retirement from the Arizona DPS, he became a deputy for the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. BC was appointed to the original council for the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside and organized the Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department. He was elected to the Pinetop-Lakeside Town Council and served for over 20 years as a councilman, mayor and vice mayor. He was listed in the Who’s Who of Arizona Government for his outstanding community service.
BC was a Christian and served as a deacon for the First Baptist Church of Pinetop. He loved serving the Lord and spending time with his church family.
He was an avid golfer who loved to ride motorcycles, paint, watch movies and play poker with his friends.
BC enjoyed nothing more than his family, especially his grandchildren. A loving husband, father, grandfather, community member and friend, he will be deeply missed by all.
Survivors include his wife, Toni Irwin of Pinetop; five children, Wendy (Wayne) Tedford of Show Low, Dennis (Stephanie) Irwin of Lakeside, Justin (Tracy) Irwin of Show Low, Betsy (Thomas) Cherepko of Harker Heights, Texas, and Suzy (Richard) Quiroz of Tucson; 11 grandchildren, Brandi Hansen, Egan (Tiffany) Tedford, Stephen (Emily) Irwin, Bethany (Chad) de Alva, Tori Irwin, Zachary Irwin, Cody Irwin, Emma Cherepko, Regan Cherepko, Henry Cherepko and Liliana Quiroz; and three great-grandchildren, Brynlee, Ashleigh and Courtney.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marjorie; and a brother, John Irwin.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in BC’s name to the White Mountain Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, Ariz. 85929.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.
