Bernard William Farrar

Bernie enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard after graduating from high school. His unit was the 26th Infantry Division 181, Charley Company. Charlie Company was sent to Korea as replacements for casualties and only Bernie and 37 others survived to return home from that assignment. Bernie was discharged from the National Guard on September 27, 1954, he then enlisted in the US Air Force where he served on bases in Germany, France, England, Iceland, Holland, Italy, North Africa, Porto Rico, and Panama. He was assigned to a base on Guam and flew 26 combat missions in Korea on a B29, after which he was rotated back to the states and was honorably discharged in 1968. Bernie reenlisted for another six years and served as a Drill Instructor at Lackland AFB in Texas for three months until he was restored to flying status and sent to a bomber crew in Oklahoma. There he worked in the base Radio Station until they were assigned to a bomber from Carswell AFB. Bernie participated in Operation Crome Dome which kept half of the bomber fleet in the air 24 hrs. a day, 365 days a year. Afterward he was transferred to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, where he served during the Cuban Missile Crises. His crew was reassigned to temporary duty on Guam and received orders for duty in Thailand. Bernie participated in the bombing of North Vietnam in Operation Line Backer One and Two. He completed 288 combat missions over Southeast Asia, and on his 289th was shot down over Loas by a surface to air missile on their way to home base in Thailand. Six of his crew members died and the rest of them were listed as missing in action for seven and a half weeks. A long-range Marine Recon Patrol found them and a rescue helicopter picked them up.

Bernie retired from the Air Force in September of 1974 and attended UNLV for four and half years, earning three degrees, all while he worked full time as a Letter Carrier for the USPS. After 11 years, he took the position of Driver Instructor/Examiner for them and became the Chief Driver Instructor for Nevada, Northern California, and Arizona. He was Chief Driver Instructor from 1994 until 2001, when he retired, Bernie served as the Chief of the Post Offices Fleet of Tractor Trailers.

Bernie enjoyed golf, traveling in his motor home, riding motorcycles, ham radio operations, and his grand and great grandchildren.

Bernie is survived by his wife Leola Farrar, brother Craig and wife Stephanie Farrar, niece Carey and Christian Bjornnes and their children Kieran and Ellie.

Stepchildren Connie and Gene Wilde, Cathy Gordon, Mike and Tami Dieffenbaugh, Christy and Tom Robertson. Grandchildren: Monica and Nathan O’Donoghue, Michele Fuss, Tom and Kristian Robertson, Melanie and Ian Rinde, Jennifer and Richard Moran, Jessica and Joshua Isham, Gene Wilde III, Gregory Wilde, Joshua and Heather Knudson, Steven Bash, Charles Bash, and 21 great-grandchildren.

Bernie is preceded in death by his first wife Madeline, their son John Farrar, parents Adelina and William Farrar, sister’ s Barbara Farrar, Beverly and Gary Ojerholm.

A visitation will be held at Palm Mortuary - Eastern, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123, US, on April 2, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, followed by a funeral service at Palm Mortuary - Eastern at 2:00 pm.

A committal will take place at Palm Eastern Cemetery, 7600 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123, US, on April 2, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.