Charles Alfred Barnhill

Charles Alfred Barnhill was a man of many names. Chuck. Fred. Barney. Grandpa. Mr. Barnhill, if you were his student. Charles Alfred, if you were his mother and he was in trouble. Battling Bass Barnhill to his longtime childhood chums. No matter what you called him, if you knew him, you had a friend in Chuck. Chuck was born and raised right here in Bloomington, born to James and Mary in 1939. He spent his formative childhood years romping around the woods and fields with his best buddies, pitching tents in every stand of trees and fishing in every body of water he could access (which often ended in being escorted away by the all-too-familiar university security staff). He attributed his love of nature to his father, who himself was an avid outdoorsman and taxidermist, and to his mother, from whom he inherited an affinity for caring for animals, including his famous and beloved pet alligator. Chuck developed an interest in art which was fostered by his good friend and neighbor, George Weymouth, and his high school arts teachers Mr. Mills and Mr. Floyd. He went on to study art and art education at Indiana University, where he earned a batchelor’s and a master’s degree. He eventually exhausted all of the studio art classes and put his degree into practice as an art educator at Edgewood High School, from which he retired 26 years later. Prior to enrolling in college and becoming an arts educator, Chuck enlisted in the United States Air Force where he was a fierce competitor on their national marksman team. He enjoyed several years of traveling nationally to compete in shooting competitions, many of which he won. All these years later, despite being hampered by aging eyesight, he could still out-shoot us all. Chuck continued developing his own art pursuits while still teaching at Edgewood High School. Considering himself to be a wildlife artist, he created in several media, including wood sculpture, three-dimensional stained glass, and wood block printings. His pieces were featured in exhibitions sponsored by the Indiana Fine Arts Museum; the art education Matrix Gallery; the Indianapolis Museum of Art; Southern Indiana Exhibition; the Brown County Art Guild; and the Hoosier Hills Art Guild. He also was the recipient of several honors and awards for his art. After his retirement from public education, Chuck did not entirely retire from teaching; his grandchildren became his art students and he greatly enjoyed instilling in them a love of artistic expression through carving and stained glass. In his retirement he continued to be actively involved in helping children and adults reach their potential through art. He was motivated and inspired by others as they realized the extent of their own creative ability and felt great accomplishment at seeing others grow and express themselves visually. Chuck’s love of nature was not limited to creating works of art. He additionally spent his time fishing, camping, canoeing, and simply walking in the woods. He loved to end his days chopping wood and stoking the fire and lamented the coming of hot summer weather when his fireplace and favorite axe would be neglected. This is probably the primary reason that he purchased a vintage log cabin just outside the Boundary Waters where he and his wife Linda spent their summers – a place where fires are welcome most of the summer, flannels are year-round fashion, and he could roast hot dogs while listening for loons or eagles on the lake. Here in his beloved log home in Bloomington, he loved watching turtles on their pond, throwing tomahawks and knives, and showing his grandchildren how to throw the atlatl. In short, Chuck was someone who truly lived each day to its fullest. He took the greatest pleasure in the simplest joys. His favorite and most-quoted saying was “Are we having fun yet?” which perfectly sums up his attitude toward life. He met each day with positivity, an attitude being carried on by those who were loved by him, including his wife of 27 years, Linda Barnhill; his daughters Belinda Thornhill and Lisa Barnhill; his son Jeff Barnhill; his grandchildren William, Noelle, Ashley, Makinsey, Collin, Halley, Adelaide, and Emmett; and his four great-grandchildren Addyson, Emily, Tucker, and Xander. Chuck passed away just after his 84th birthday, peacefully listening to the soothing sounds of his beloved Northwoods loons, surrounded by his family. He will be missed by everyone who was touched by his incredible life. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hoosier Hills Food Bank https://hhfoodbank.org/donate/ Services for Chuck will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 2:00PM at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old State Road 37. Reverend Tim Thompson will officiate and burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will also be held Saturday, August 5, 2023 from 11:00AM until the time of the service at 2:00PM at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

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Charles Alfred Barnhill

July 21, 1939 - July 31, 2023