Bernard Eugene “Bernie” Carbon, Sr.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Bernard Eugene “Bernie” Carbon, Sr., was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, Aug. 25, 1929, to Harold W. and Beatrice M. Carbon, and went to be with the Lord Sept. 9, 2021.
Bernie came to Wichita in the summer of 1940, attending school at Kellogg Grade and Plainview High. He received an associate degree from Butler County Community College in 1978 and another from the Community of College Art in 1986.
In December 1948, Bernie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After finishing basic training, he was stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California, for a short time before being deployed to the South Pacific Theater. The Korean War began in June 1950, causing his tour to be extended.
After serving 26 months overseas, Bernie was reassigned to Robins AFB in Warner Robins, Georgia, in 1952. It was here he met and married Barbara Ann Wade, and from this union they were blessed with four sons.
Bernie was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in September 1952 and returned to Wichita,. He was employed at Boeing Aerospace for one year, then accepted employment in December 1953 with the 127th TAC Fighter Group, Kansas Air National Guard, located at McConnell AFB. In 1962, Bernie was awarded the Citizens Soldier Award from the city of Wichita, Chamber of Commerce. In February 1968, during the Pueblo Crisis, Bernie was called to active duty with the 184th Tactical Fighter Group and deployed to Kunsan AFB, Korea, as the first sergeant of the 127th Tactical Fighter Squadron to prepare for the arrival of 500 Guardsmen.
During his career in the Air Guard, he was involved in five aircraft conversions. In 1983, Bernie selected to be the senior enlisted advisor to the director, Air National Guard, Washington, D.C. Bernie was the third person to serve in this, the highest enlisted position in the Air National Guard. Here, he traveled extensively, maintaining close communication with men and women in the field within the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He also maintained close liaison with his counterparts in the Air Force and other major commands. Bernie served on the Department of Defense Reserve Forces Advisory Council, as well, while assigned to the Washington post.
Upon returning to Wichita, Bernie again worked at Boeing Aerospace until he accepted employment by the Kansas Emergency Management Division, where he remained until full retirement.
Bernie was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita since 1952. He served as chairman of deacons for six years and was active in Gideon’s International. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame in 2002.
Bernie is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara; sons Bernard E. Jr. (Annette) Carbon of Warner Robins; Donald A. (Betsy) Carbon of Mulvane, Kansas; Keith W. (Nicole) Carbon of Fort Ann, New York; daughter-in-law Donna Carbon of Byron, Georgia; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Ronald D. Carbon, daughter-in-law Shirley A. Carbon, and granddaughters Ahna M. Pullock and Amanda L. Carbon.
Visitation with family will be Sept. 12, from 2-4 p.m. Funeral servicesare set for Sept. 13, 10 a.m., both at Immanuel Baptist Church, Wichita. Burial will be in Douglass.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Immanual Baptist Church, 1415 Topeka St, Wichita, KS 67211 and Gideons International, PO Box 20741, Wichita, KS 67208.
On-line condolences can be left at www.shinklemortuary.com.