Mr. Van Baren was born in Fremont, Nebraska but came to California with his family at the age of 4. He was raised and educated first in Mt. View, California and then in Salinas, California. He attended Hartnell College before returning to the San Jose area where he met and married Barbara Diane Burke in 1964. During the Viet Nam war he enlisted in the US Navy and achieved the rate of Petty Officer First Class. He spent 8 years in the Navy before leaving in 1974 to begin a career in the Restaurant business. He spent the next 30 years managing then owning the Golden West Pancake House in Hanford. Ed was an avid golfer who won several club championships. He enjoyed traveling in his classic corvette and during the final years of his life he rediscovered bicycling. He participated in several 100 mile bike rides with his sister Nancy, his brother Rusty and sister-in-law Barbara.
Ed is survived by his wife Barbara and his two sons, Timothy and David Van Baren as well as his sister Nancy Dixon and two brothers and sisters-in-laws, Rusty and Barbara Van Baren and Richard and Ester Van Baren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Joe Van Baren, his parents, Russell and Frances Van Baren, and his grandparents, Harry and Nina Strunk and Dirk and Vida Van Baren.
In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation at www.alzfdn.org or the Alzheimer’s Association: Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia at www.alz.org
A Celebration of Ed’s Life will be held on Monday, March 12th at 1:00 p.m. at People’s Funeral Chapel; 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA 93230 and an Inurnment at a later date at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Santa Nella, CA.
Family and Friends are invited to view Ed’s legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and send condolences to the family.
Services by People’s Funeral Chapel 559-584-5591.
