Charles Timothy Lord

Of all his many life accomplishments, Tim will be most remembered for his love, loyalty and dedication to his family. He was a kind and gentle man who always made sure everyone around him was happy and taken care of. Tim enjoyed golfing and tennis with family, as well as gathering everyone around the table for cards, dominos and Farkle. These activities could be competitive but were mostly full of laughter and good-natured joking. He absolutely loved spoiling his pets and could always be found with an animal close by.

Tim was actively involved in the community by serving as a member of The Clovis Exchange Club, and when it came to the interests of his children, served as a Guide Master for Indian Princesses and Indian Guides, Scoutmaster for Cub Scouts, and as a coach on many sports teams. He also enthusiastically jumped into cake decorating, pumpkin carving and pinewood derby competitions with his children creating core memories and winning a few first-place ribbons along the way. He was always there to support his children and grandchildren in their pursuits, cheering loudly and always their biggest fan. The wins felt greater and the losses hurt less knowing Dad or Papa was there supporting us.

Tim was born in Emporia, Kansas on July 1, 1948. He was an easygoing, happy child with an infectious laugh. Growing up, he was the 5th of 6 children to Margaret J. and Theodore W. Lord, Sr. He grew up in Kansas and Colorado, spending most summers at their cabin in Chipita Park. He was a mischievous and fun-loving kid who is remembered by his siblings as a gentle giant with a great sense of humor who loved his pets, and delighted in light-heartedly teasing others.

After graduating high school and beginning college at Kansas State, Tim volunteered for the Naval ROTC and then trained with the Naval Air Reserve Intelligence Unit. He was sent to Honolulu for a couple of weeks to study surveillance photos. One day while visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, his life was forever changed. While walking through the parking lot, he was almost hit by a car rushing by. The passenger in that car was Janet Ann Milano who quickly captured his attention. After getting acquainted while touring the Polynesian Cultural Center, they agreed to meet later that night where they had a drink and danced the night away. Over the course of the next year, they would date long distance, with Tim in Kansas and Janet in San Francisco, until he finally proposed. He moved to San Francisco, and they were married on August 23, 1970.

Tim had a knack for sales and was approached about an opportunity in the life insurance business. The potential they dangled in front of him was too much to ignore, so he decided to give it a shot. After some training, Tim got licensed in the life insurance business as a producer with Provident Mutual. in 1978, he was hired as an agency manager and the family moved to Portland, Oregon. They enjoyed a few years in Portland, but after Mount St. Helens erupted, he was offered the opportunity to bring the family back to California as a Regional Sales Manager for Empire General. With his great smile and infectious laugh, he grew quite a force of independent producers.

In 1984, Protective Life asked if he would like to help bring the Alabama based company to California which had just come out with the first 15-year term policy. As Tim's agency grew, so did his standing at Protective Life, finishing 2003 and 2004 as the #1 Regional Office for total life insurance production. He qualified for 23 conventions with Protective Life, 11 at the prestigious Colonel's Cabinet level. He was awarded the John D. Johns and Drayton Nabers Jr. Excellence Awards for excellence in management, the latter being the highest honor Protective gives out. In 2008 he received an offer for his agency that he couldn't refuse and sold to a counterpart, staying on until finally retiring fully in September 2011.

Tim loved being outdoors and was an avid gardener, planting seasonal flowers and meticulously maintaining the yard. He enjoyed projects such as installing flagstone patios, building fences, pergolas and laying brick flower beds, usually with his children or grandchildren as his assistant. He taught many of us skills that we continue to use in our day-to-day lives.

Another passion of Tim's was travel. He visited all 50 states and many places in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, Fiji, and Europe. These trips always included his family, his sisters or both. The annual family vacations were legendary and the constant subject around the dinner table. Hawai'i always held a special place in his heart, because that's where he met the love of his life, and the family returned there for many great family vacations that will be remembered for generations.

Tim was big hearted and caring man, demonstrating his care, whether it was with his beloved Janet, his children and grandchildren, his neighbors big and small, his clients and his agents, or strangers meeting him for the first time, People interacted with Tim went away feeling better about themselves. He showed us what it means to love one another in how he lived his daily life, with gentle kindness, his winsome spirit and infectious laugh. We are confident he would not want us to linger long in sorrow, and we believe the way in which we will honor him most is to live each day we are given by honoring our faith, greeting each day with a full measure of laughter, a gentle kindness toward one another, and love.

Tim is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janet Lord; his son Kevin Timothy Lord (Sarah); his daughter Amy Patricia Bonsell, all of Clovis, California and his son Brian Timothy Lord (Colette) of San Diego, California; grandchildren, Jonah Francis Lord (Lavender) of New Hampshire, Jayden Timothy Lord, Keaton Timothy Lord; Kailey Ann Lord; Brenden Anthony Bonsell and Kamrynn Patricia (Bonsell) Fleming (Lance) and great grandchildren, Violet Nicole Lord, Lily Raine Lord of New Hampshire, and Baylor Jonah Lord of California: his sister Margaret Diane Quaintance (Harold) of Gardner, Kansas and his sister Deborah Lord of Granby, Colorado.

Charles was preceded in death by his father Theodore Woodward Lord, Sr. and his mother Margaret Oralee (Jones) Lord; his sister Barbara Ware; his brother Theodore W. Lord, Jr. and his sister Karen Lundblad.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in his name to one of the organizations that he loved and supported; St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105; Fresno Rescue Mission, 2025 East Dakota Avenue, 4th floor, Fresno, California 93726; and Michael J. Fox Foundation, Grand Central Station P.O. Box 4777, New York, New York 10163.