Ernest Joseph Panosian

October 6, 1916 - November 13, 2014

Our beloved father is safely home forever. We grieve, though not as those who have no hope, knowing that, for him, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.Ernest was born on October 6, 1916 in Alameda, California to his parents Jacob Serop Panosian and Azniv Jenanyan Panosian. With his brother Howard he enjoyed the warmth and security of a lively, loving family. A bright and inquisitive child, he was often reading several books in a single day by the age of eight. By the time he was fourteen, Ernest was ready to assume the responsibilities of an adult. He began working after school at Campus Shoe Repair in Westwood Village, the largest business of its kind in Los Angeles. There his father put him in charge of a dozen men who manufactured and repaired shoes. It was not long before his father had begun to entrust the entire business to Ernest for extended periods.Following graduation from Beverly Hills High School in 1934 and from UCLA in 1939, Ernest joined the Army, expecting to complete his enlisted service obligation within a year. But war clouds were gathering, and all enlistments were soon declared of indefinite duration. By the conclusion of his eleventh month on active duty Ernest had been promoted from the lowest to the highest enlisted rank. He was sent to Officer Candidate School in Wyoming where, in 1942, he was commissioned an officer in the Army of the United States. Shipped to Guadalcanal at the height of the war in the South Pacific, Ernest commanded a Quartermaster company of 300 men under perilous conditions. His return to California in late 1943 for treatment of malaria unexpectedly opened the door to the greatest joy of his life. After a brief courtship, Ernest and Carolyn were married on June 17, 1944 in one of Oakland's largest wartime weddings.Shortly after Ernest's discharge from the Army in 1946, Ernest and Carolyn built their first house in Brentwood. Jeffrey was born in 1948 and Claire in 1951. While Ernest developed Pan-Pack Foods, his food processing and packaging business, Carolyn made their house a home. School, church, scouts, travel, and family visits filled their busy lives. Moving to Santa Barbara in 1964 and into their new house in Hope Ranch in 1966, Ernest and Carolyn enjoyed a blessed life together as their children pursued their educations and careers.Just as Ernest's success as a military officer had led to prospects for further promotion after the war, so also did Ernest's success as a businessman and commercial real estate principal lead to offers of senior positions in the corporate world and the federal government. These offers he uniformly declined. Ernest had determined that he would never subordinate his family's best interests to career aspirations and never allow himself to be distracted by matters of lesser importance than his family. He was never too busy to help Carolyn, Jeffrey, and Claire, never too busy to help others inside and outside his extended family, and never too busy to spend time together at home and away. He sought the "quiet and peaceable life" that the Scriptures commend.Widely admired for his integrity, industry, intellect, wit, and bearing, Ernest was characterized above all by his love and devotion. He gave himself for those he loved. In this respect he sought to imitate Christ, ever more so as he grew in faith and understanding.Ernest confronted his greatest spiritual challenge during the early part of his final illness. He had been outwardly brave following Carolyn's departure to be with the Lord in 2011, but, as his health problems multiplied, his inner suffering on account of her absence left him disheartened. Then, seemingly without explanation, his attitude began to change. Throughout the last half of his long hospitalization, Ernest impressed those who cared for him with a joy and serenity that was remarkable for someone in his situation. The Lord's grace would be sufficient for him even as the Lord's strength was being made perfect in his increasing weakness. Once again encouraged, and having fought the good fight, Ernest finished his course on November 13, 2014. With Carolyn, he awaits the crown of righteousness which the Lord has laid up for His own. A service of thanksgiving for Ernest's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at El Montecito Presbyterian Church, located at 1455 East Valley Road in Montecito. A reception will follow at the Montecito Country Club, located on Summit Road a short distance from the church.