Donald A. Baldwin

BALDWIN - We celebrate the life of our beloved father, Donald A. Baldwin, who left us peacefully on Thursday morning, July 26, 2012. He walked by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and taught others to do the same through his gentle and quiet spirit. He loved to spend time in the forest; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, motorcycling or just walking along looking for mushrooms or wildlife. Later he became an excellent wood carver and left many fine examples of his craft for his family to treasure. He was born in Roselawn, Michigan, in October of 1920 to Henry and Blanche Baldwin. He served his country in the US Army Air Corps 9th Photo Recon Squadron during WWII. After returning home, he attended college at Northern Michigan University where he met and married his sweet-heart in 1947. Following graduation from Northern, Don taught in the school districts of Pentwater, Lake Orion, Bloomfield Hills, and Avondale. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lucinda (Olsen) Baldwin, with whom he enjoyed a long and happy marriage. Also surviving are his precious little sister, Frances Conn; children, Dan Baldwin, Kim and Les Blount, Bobbie and Larry Rutz, Dick and Jan Baldwin, Gail and Tim Brown, and David and Juli Baldwin; 20 grandchildren; and 8 great grandchildren. He will be lovingly remembered for his endless patience and sweet disposition. He also had a keen sense of humor! Don's family extends a very special "thank you" to the staff at Georgetown and Cambridge Manors for the outstanding care he received during the last two years. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, 2 PM at the Cook Memorial Chapel (east building), 4235 Prairie SW, Grandville, with his son, Rev. Richard Baldwin officiating. Relatives and friends may meet his family Monday from 7-9 PM at the Cook Funeral Home (west building). His family welcomes memories and messages in their guest book online at www.cookfamilycares.com.

Life Story of Donald: Donald was born in a one-room log cabin by a little creek called Roselawn and he says, "the cabin and county are gone, but he and the creek keep on rolling along!" He was the 4th child born to Henry and Blanch (Dean) Baldwin. Don attended school nearby at Paulding for a couple of years until his dad got a good job in Watersmeet where Don graduated from high school in 1938. He attended a business college for a semester in Escanaba -- then worked in bookkeeping and drove truck for his dad. When the war started in 1941 he joined the Army-Air Force. He spent three years overseas as a Photo Recon (Intelligence) mainly in India. After the war, he resumed driving for his father for another year until starting college at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. Prior to graduating, he met Lucinda at a "Meeting of the Freshmen" event. Various ministers/churches attended and invited the students to their table/area. Don reports, "All the pretty girls went over to the Baptist area, so I did too!" "I got the prettiest of all," he said. Later she was crowned "Winter queen of Marquette," with her many talents: skating, skiing, snowshoeing, etc... They got married and had six children in all: Dan, Lucinda, Roberta, Richard, Gail and David. Two were born in the U.P., the rest in lower Michigan. He first taught in Pentwater, then Lake Orion. He worked one year as a fieldsman for the MI Education Association. He later went to Bloomfield Hills, and retired after 12 years at Avondale teaching technical drawing. Retirement years found him enjoying winters in Florida, and summers in their U.P. cabin. He was a great wood carver and enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting and reading.

Funeral Home Service Cook Funeral & Cremation Services - Grandville Chapel 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI

Funeral Service July 31, 2012 2:00 PM Cook Memorial Chapel 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI

Visitation July 30, 2012 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Cook Funeral & Cremation Services - Grandville Chapel 4235 Prairie St. SW Grandville, MI