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Charles Albert (Charlie) Fornara

Posted 2014-12-19 by Sharla
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona,
Friday, December 19, 2014

Charles Albert Fornara, 89, of Prescott, Arizona, born Aug. 13, 1925, in Cottonwood, Arizona, passed away Dec. 15, 2014.

Rosary will be 10:15 a.m. Dec. 26, 2014, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 Fleury St., Prescott, with funeral Mass to follow. Commencement will be at Prescott National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home.
~~~~~~~~~
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona,
Sunday, December 21, 2014

Charles Albert Fornara, 89, was born in Cottonwood, Arizona, on Aug. 13, 1925, to Battista and Flora Fornara.

He grew up in the Verde Valley and moved to Prescott, Arizona, in 1940. As a teen, he worked for his family's Hassayampa Dairy.

Charlie graduated from PHS in 1943. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, spending two years serving on several ships sailing around the world. After his discharge, he earned a degree in marketing from Arizona State University and returned to Prescott to join the family business, Hassayampa Market. During this time, he also became a partner in the JCJ Ranch with family members Louis Fornara, Joe Savoini and John Olsen. In 1952, Charlie married Joan Gegg of Prescott and they raised five children.

Over the next 30 years, he was active in Little League and Babe Ruth baseball; he was a life member of the Knights of Columbus; and he served on the Prescott Unified School Board. He was very proud of a 50-year affiliation with the Yavapai County Mounted Sheriff Posse. Charlie retired from the grocery business in 1990.

Charlie was a man of great faith and was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish. He loved being out in the woods while hunting and fishing. His biggest thrill was harvesting a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram at age 88 after 47 years of unsuccessful attempts at getting drawn for this rare hunt. He was so proud that his four sons were able to share this moment. All of his many hunts were further enhanced by the company of his brothers, sons, grandchildren, cousins and nephews. He was an avid ASU fan and followed their athletic program closely.

Survivors are Joan, his wife of 62 years and children Marilyn Wilcox (Reid), John (Kim), Jim, Chuck (Sarah), and Joe (Stacie). He was proud of his 10 grandchildren, Matthew and Brian Wilcox, Jason, Joel (Kaitey), Kristin, James, Will, Josie, Ava, and Leo Fornara. He is also survived by brothers Louis (Ninta) of Prescott and George (Margaret) of Kirkland. Besides his brothers, Charlie was raised with five cousins, Joe (deceased), Jim and Art Savoini, along with Ann Fornara Olsen and Robert Fornara, both deceased. Other family includes sisters-in-law Winifred Gegg (deceased) and Marjorie Gegg Trengove; brother-in-law Ray Trengove; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 150 Fleury Ave, Prescott on Friday, Dec. 26, 2014 at 11 a.m., preceded by a rosary at 10:15 a.m. with inurnment at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at Prescott National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Yavapai County Mounted Sheriff's Posse Scholarship program at YCMSP, P.O. Box 95, Prescott, AZ 86302 or the Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus Scholarship fund c/o Sacred Heart Church.

You are invited to log onto ruffnerwakelin.com to sign Charlie's guest book and share a memory with the family.

Information provided by survivors.

See Also: Find A Grave




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