Charles Faris

Charles Bud Faris (June 11, 1919 - August 9, 2002) was the son of Jude Cameron Faris and Lillie Belle (Parnell) Faris. He's best known as the longtime owner of the Faris Market in downtown Bloomington. A World War II veteran, he inherited the business from his father and three uncles in the 1950s. Originally Faris had intended on working for General Motors, but decided to work the family business instead. He went on to become the first president of the city council.

He was a 2007 inductee into the Monroe County Hall of Fame.

Notable Accomplishments

• Graduated from Bloomington High School in 1937
• Received a bronze star, Presidential Unit Citation and Commendation from the British Royal Air Force for his contributions during WWII on General Jimmy Doolittle's staff.
• Was essential in attracting General Electric Industries to Bloomington
• Chaired the first polio fund drive in Bloomington
• Helped launch the United Fund (later the United Way)
• Served on the Bloomington City Council for 8 years
• First president of the city council from 1966-1970
• President of Bloomington's Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1968
• Outstanding Man of the Year in Bloomington in 1952
• Nominated to the Bloomington Hall of Fame three years (2004,2005,2006)

Obituary

BLOOMINGTON — Charles Jude Bud Faris, 83, of Bloomington, Indiana, died Friday at 3:33 p.m. at Bloomington Hospital.

Bud was the owner of Faris Market on the Square, the last remaining privately owned grocery in the greater Bloomington area.

Born in Monroe County, he was the son of Jude Cameron Faris and Lillie Belle (Parnell) Faris. He was the grandson of Charles Cameron Faris, whose farm was purchased by Indiana University, and is now the home of the Stadium Complex.

Bud's greatest character quality was his genuine milk of human kindness. He was the "Outstanding Man of the Year" in Bloomington in 1952, President of the United Fund, the first President of the Bloomington City Council, and a key advisor to all, regardless of the issue or political party. His "round table" at local restaurants during the lunch period provided a long lasting legacy of improvements to the Bloomington Community.

He was a long standing member of the First Christian Church of Bloomington, attended Indiana University and served as the Alumni Advisor for over 40 years for Beta Theta Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Indiana University.

Particularly noteworthy was his role as the Ordinance Officer for General Doolittle at Headquarters Eighth Air Force in England during World War II. He received the Bronze Star, a Presidential Unit Citation and Commendation from the British Royal Air Force for his contributions to the war effort.

He is survived by his five children, Commander (Retired), United States Navy, Charles Cameron Faris of Ridgecrest, California; Colonel (Retired), United States Air Force, Grant Blackwell Faris of Valencia, California; Colonel, United States Air Force, David Scott Faris of Ridgecrest, California; nurse Nancy Clone (Faris) Byrne of Fayetteville, Georgia; and teacher Janice Barbara Faris of Corinth, Texas. Included are nine grandchildren, Charles Christopher Faris, Amy Jean (Faris) Gershkovich, Benjamin Blackwell Faris, Nathan Becket Faris, Jonathan Scott Faris, Joshua David Byrne, Andrew Louis Byrne, Micah Charles Luke Byrne; two great-grandchildren, Cole Benjamin Gershkovich, and Allison Ficken.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara (McPike) Faris (December 27, 1998); and sisters, Dorothy (Faris) Lampkins and Helen (Faris) Mauer.