Richard James Bernard, “Jim,”as he was known to his family and friends died at peace on March 10th, 2023. He was 93 years old.

Jim was born on April 18th, 1929, just months before the great stock market crash that led to the Great Depression. He was the third son of Jack L and Florence M. Bernard, Jim also had two younger sisters. Growing up poor on the north side of St Louis he learned to survive and adapt with what became his sharp wit, charm, and his great sarcastic humor.  He also was a master at joke telling and his storytelling was legendary.

He attended Central High on the north side but never finished. He also took college night courses to shore up his education. After a stint in the United States Army where he served mainly bouncing around the east coast putting his intellect and office skills to work, he came home to St. Louis with an honorable discharge.  Needing a job, Jim then began a successful business career starting at Standard Oil as a clerk. After Standard Oil moved their offices to Chicago Jim had to move on and stayed in his hometown where he started a job in finance where he had a stellar career as Vice President and Treasurer of the Federal Land Bank of St. Louis.

As a depression era baby, Jim bought his first home in Walnut Park, Florissant and then homes in West County.  After his Retirement Jim spent his winters in Naples Florida.  With Jim’s busy and successful career, he also managed to travel the world and the US extensively. He once remarked looking at photos of him standing in Red Square on a trip to Russia, that he was a very long way from selling newspapers on Grand Avenue as a child of the Great Depression.

As a great sports fan of all kinds Jim’s favorite was of course following St. Louis Cardinal’s. Baseball which was and is still a passion of the Bernard family.  Jim as stated had a great wit, he also cared deeply for and supported his mom and sister to the end.  Jim was preceded in death by his father Jack L and Florence M. Bernard. His four siblings, Jack C, (Martha) William G, (Alta) Ada L Bernard, Irene F. (Tom) Martin and nephew William L Bernard, niece Elizabeth A. Bernard and niece Angelina M. Bernard (nee Przywara). He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. In the end Jim was a son, good friend, brother, uncle to many.

Put simply, Jim was a generous loving good guy.