Carl "Pap" Baysinger

Dad was born on February 24th 1920 in Washington Pa. to Ethel (Teagarden) and Nicholas Baysinger. Dad was third of five children, 2 brothers and two sisters, and was the last living of his family. He spent his youth in Marianna in rural Pennsylvania. He loved Pennsylvania and liked to hunt and fish as a youth. Dad met Wilma White in the 1940’s and they were married while dad was on leave from the Army. Dad entered the Army on February 23, 1942 in Cumberland Pa. and spent part of his basic training in the desert near Barstow California. On his first trip to CA in active duty, he was sent by boat to Europe being a member of the 8th Infantry (ARMED FORCE) headquarters and was assigned to the 709th Tank Battalion. He landed in Normandy and traveled through Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and France where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism on July 25,1944. When he learned that important maps and plans had been left in the tank, he without regard for his own safety, braved intense enemy small arms and artillery fire to go back to the tank and recover the papers. His actions were in the highest traditions of the military service. He also received other metals like the Good Conduct Metal and the European, African, Middle Eastern Metal with five Bronze Stars. He was active in many battles, G33 and 40 WD 45 in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was a Marksman and Mad Crew member on the tank. On leaving the service as Corporal Baysinger, he traveled home on the Queen Mary and docked in New York City on October 25,1945. He then went to work at J&L Steel Mill in Pittsburgh Pa.

His family moved to Ventura, CA in the 1950’s for a short while and he worked as a mechanic before moving to Pasco, Washington and then back to Pittsburgh to work in steel mills. In 1960 the family moved to El Monte CA, and dad worked for Cinch Graphics. He moved to La Puente to be closer to work. During this time in 1962 he walked daughter Mae down the isle to be married to Ron. In 1971 he walked daughter Wilma down the isle to marry Orrin. On December 26,1976, Carl was baptized at Puenta Baptist Temple in La Puente, CA. Dad retired in February 1982 at the age of 62. He was a member of the VFW and enjoyed retirement for many years. He moved in with daughters Mae and Wilma and spent time with his grandchildren Ron II and Loren, and then spent time with his great grandchildren; Kelly, Ron III, Ryan, Carl, Taylor, and Nicholas Jacobson. He liked to Fish in the Sierras in streams and lakes, and enjoyed eating what he caught. Like in his heroic actions in the military he was more concerned about family and friends by putting others before himself. He never complained about his problems. He was a wonderful father and friend. Alzheimer’s limited his trips to Vegas and fishing in recent times. Dad was a wonderful, nice, generous, loving person who was more interested in giving then receiving. Dad had a heart attack in July and spent 5 days in the hospital and 14 days in a skilled nursing home before coming home to spend his last days before going to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 11:29 PM at the age of 90.