Charley/Chuck Barno

  “Chuck was born on 7/10/28 in Mather, at home, and later his family moved to Jefferson.  His father and mother had both come through Ellis Island from Austria  and his father worked at a coal mine in maybe Nemacolin.  His dad got a job at Mather mine and moved the family here about the time of the big explosion at Mather mine.  His first day was spent in rescue and recovery work.  Chuck was the 10^th of 11 children and remembers sleeping three in a bed (him in the middle!)  He was on the wrestling team at JM and got a scholarship for wrestling from Wbg. College.  Hitchhiked to Waynesburg College for two years and can’t remember ever not getting a ride.  Was drafted in 1951 and sent to Fort Monroe, a beautiful small fort on the Chesapeake Bay.  After going to Ft. Gordon for MP training, he returned to Ft. Monroe.  Met Doris there and married in 1953 at the post Chapel of the Centurion.  Went to live in Petersburg, Va., and started at U. of Richmond on a football scholarship.  He worked at a chemical plant and after Dorie’s discharge from the

Army, she worked for the gas company until they moved to Richmond.   While attending college, he worked at a drug company and built Cadet housing  and Dorie worked at an Allergy Clinic.  With the GI bill, he was able to get his degree from U. of Richmond in 1955 in Psychology and Education and a minor in Physical Education. He got his Master’s in Physical Education from WVU in 1961. 

                He applied for a teaching position at his hometown school, Jefferson Morgan, and was hired to start in fall of 1955, teaching and coaching.  Dorie and first daughter Cheri (who was born at Petersburg Hospital) joined him a few weeks later and they lived in Waynesburg where she worked for the law firm of Thompson & Bailey until time for second child, Charlie, when they moved to Jefferson.  Chuck liked teaching and coaching and says he never woke up dreading to go to school.  Barbara and Susan were born at Waynesburg Hospital (as well as Charlie), and all attended JM.  Chuck retired after 39 years of teaching.  Dorie retired from the Postal Service after 22 years."

Doris wrote that for me, and here's some tidbits I'll add:  Charley and Doris met being Best Man and Maid of Honor in a friend's wedding.  They got married in the same chapel on the base where Dwight Eisenhower's son was married.  Then they had another ceremony back home.  They actually have 3 certificates of marriage - an Army one, a Catholic one and a civilian one.  Says Charley, " We wanted to make sure it stuck."  Another quote from him: "I really enjoyed the kids (at the school where he taught).  I enjoyed going to work."  He and Doris used to be "sponsors" or chaperones for the high school dances.  She would wear a long gown, and all the teachers stayed after the kids left and danced the night away.