Charlie Hernandez, 1938 — 2013
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Charlie Hernandez, 1938 — 2013
Charlie Hernandez, 1938 — 2013
Charlie Hernandez, 1938 — 2013
Charlie Hernandez was born in Tehachapi on Nov. 7, 1938 to Pedro and Hillaria Hernandez. He was one of ten children and attended Wells Elementary and graduated from Tehachapi High School in 1958.
While in high school he was asked to design the logo for the new Tehachapi Police Department. He designed five and they chose one that was a shield with an Indian head on it in red, white, and blue that became the first Tehachapi Police patch.
After he graduated he went to work for Monolith Cement Plant. In 1959, Charlie joined the Army, serving as a medic and special guard along the Berlin Wall and the Czech border in the 546th Medical Company Clearing Separate. He came back to Tehachapi after the Army and met his wife Elizabeth who passed away in March 1998. They were married for 34 years.
He went back to work for Monolith and then the City of Tehachapi.
He then went to work for National Cement in Gorman for 22 years and he lived in Lancaster where he raised his four children, Brenda, Andrea, Charles Jr., and Anthony Sr. He came back to Tehachapi and worked for the city for 15 more years before retirement.
Charlie loved to draw and was happy spending time talking to people at Kelcy’s.
He was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth, his daughter Brenda Hernandez, two siblings who died at birth, and brothers Armando, Alfred, Ernie.
Charlie is survived by his brother Pete; his sisters, Lucille, Margaret, Mary and Helen; his daughter, Andrea Higbee and husband Steve; his sons Charles Jr. and Anthony Sr. and his four grandkids, Anthony Hernandez Jr., Torri, Skyylar and Sienna Higbee, all who adored their Papa.
Services will be at St. Malachy Catholic Church with Rosary on Tuesday, March 12, at 6 p.m. and funeral at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13. A potluck reception will follow at Kelcy’s.
