THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, January 11, 1979

 

Claude G. Yarn of St. Augustine, a pioneer developer of what is now ocean highway AlA which opened up the coastal area between St. Johns and Volusia counties, died early Friday in Flagler Hospital.

Varn, an attorney and developer, whose vision resulted in construction of the first bridge across Matanzas Inlet shortening the route between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach and opened up a vast area of the northeast Florida coastline for development, was honored in 1964 when the Florida Legislature directed that the present Matanzas Inlet span be named for him.

Varn was instrumental in the construction of the first span across the inlet, which first opened as a toll bridge and later was taken over by the State Road Department, and in extension of the coastal highway in that area. .

A native of Fort Meade, he had been a resident of St. Augustine for the past 35 years. He resided at 200 N. Matanzas Blvd.

He had been a member of the Florida Bar since 1914, following his graduation from Stetson University College of Law.

He was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and was a Mason, a Shriner and an Elk. Since 1948, he had served as a trustee of the Burt Fish Testamentary Trust which owns and operates Fish Memorial Hospital, DeLand.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, at Memorial Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Harvey A. Hartman, pastor, officiating. Burial was in Espanola Cemetery, Bunnell.

Flowers were gratefully declined, and those wishing may make a contribution, in his memory, to Memorial Lutheran Church building fund or another favorite charity.

Survivors his wife, Mrs. Mary Belle Varn, St. Augustine; one son, Wilfred C. Varn, Tallahassee; four daughters, Miss Corise P. Varn, St. Augustine, Mrs. Marilyn King, Bunnell, Mrs. Helen Holton, Lakeland, Mrs. Marjorie Leonard, Ft. Lauderdale; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Craig Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.