Richard C Baldwin

Richard C BALDWIN, age 91, of Palm Harbor, Florida passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021. After a long good-bye through our father’s journey with dementia, he has reached his final destination. Dad passed away peacefully on August 5. He was 91.

Dad was born in Covington, Kentucky on July 21, 1930 the third and youngest child of Loretta Catherine Lehmkuhl and Carl Edward Baldwin. He grew up on a farm in Kentucky and attended school there. He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served in Korea from 1952 to 1953.

After returning, Dad met our mother, Carol Ann Brueckner in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dad always said it was love at first sight for him. They married in November, 1954 and had four children, Claire Ann, Mary Susan, Gail Catherine, and Richard Paul.

In October 1959, our parents decided to leave the cold and snow for the sun and beaches of Florida. We settled in Clearwater where dad found employment as a firefighter/paramedic. He retired from the city after 20+ years, but remained on the city pension board until just a few years ago when his health started to decline.

After retirement, Dad became an avid golfer, world traveler and artist. He enjoyed exploring different art mediums in between travels. He and mom traveled the world where they made new friends and enjoyed the different cultures and history.

Dad was always reading; he particularly liked American history. He was proud of the fact that he was descended from men who participated in protecting our country starting with the Revolutionary War. Dad was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Dad was most proud of being a husband, father and Opa to his four children, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sisters, daughter Gail and son-in-law Wayne.

The family wants to say thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers through his decline and during this difficult time.

As per our parents request, Dad is being cremated and will be interred with our mother at Bay Pines National Cemetery after her passing.

“Miss me a little, but not too long….Miss me but let me go.”