Where do I start with the memories... Christmas Dinner with family and friends at the Baldridge home. Betsy, Kreis, Sally Woods, Lori Weaver, (when we were little), all our parents friends, Smokey Mountain breakfasts, trips, Bridge, on and on. Love Betty, Syl, the Baldridge Family and cherished memories.

I am deeply sorry of the loss of Syl. He will be missed by the many whose lives he touched over the years. You have my sympathy. 

Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of Syl.  His "Tennessee Volunteer" legacy will live on through those he touched.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Doug Bayer

My name is Linda Rogers.  I worked with Mr. Baldridge in the Treasurer's Office on The Hill at UT.  I didn't work directly for him, but I worked in the same large office.  He was a wonderful administrator with a keen wit.  One time he was interviewing people for the the position of secretary.  He had hired several but some worked one day and never came back.  One person never came back after lunch!  We kidded him about this.  One of our co-workers decided to dress up in a hobo-like garb and blacked out her two front teeth.  That morning Mr. Baldridge was told that 
a person was waiting to be interviewed for the job.  When he opened the door, there was our colleague with her two blacked-out teeth!  The look on his face was priceless!  We all had a good laugh about that.  He had a great sense of humor and was always
a delight to be around.  My condolences to the family.  He will be missed.

My name is Linda Rogers.  I worked in the Treasurer's Office  on The Hill at UT.   I didn't work directly for Mr. Baldridge but I did work in the same large office.  He was a wonderful administrator with a keen wit.  I remember when he was looking for a new secretary.  He had interviewed several people.  He hired one person who after she went to lunch never came back!  We kidded him about this.  One of our co-workers dressed up in a hobo-like garb and blacked out her two front teeth.  When Mr. Baldridge came to work that morning he was told there was a person waiting to be interviewed for the job.  When he opened the door, there was our colleague smiling with her blacked-out teeth!  You should have seen the look on his face.  It was priceless!  He had a good laugh about that.  He will be remembered for his wonderful sense
of humor.  He was  a truly decent man.  He will be missed.


I was just reminiscing about Island Home Baptist Church and how I was so fortunate to be raised in such a gathering of wonderful people. I felt like many of these were my  “parents.” Syl and Betty certainly were great role models to me.  Three events always stand out in my memory of Syl.
 
A fishing trip to Douglas - Syl, Kreis, my dad and me. We pulled over to a small island to eat lunch - we left our baited hooks in the water - midway through the meal one of the poles took off toward the water. Syl moved like a sprinter to grab the rod. If memory is correct he reeled in a nice catfish. 

The second memory was of his 100th birthday party. I was shocked to note he was born before the end of WWI. What changes he experienced over his life. 

The third thing is one I have told often. Syl offered Kreis and me $30 to mow the church lawn the summer before I graduated from high school. Kreis and I felt like we were robbing the church. Syl insisted we accept these lofty payments. We agreed after our first mowing. Think about these facts. IHBC had two mowers - neither was self propelled or riding. The large parking lot out front did not exist - all grass. We found ropes with the mowers - we had to mow the hills by tying the lawnmowers handles and raise and lower the mowers via rope. As many of you recall IHBC has a cemetery. The weed eater had not been invented - after mowing we had to trim the cemetery using hand powered shears. Many times it took us a couple of days to complete our tasks.  Thanks to Syl I began football practice for my senior year in the best shape of my career.

Many thanks to the Baldridge family for all the great memories and the Christian examples they showed me.

Kreis and Betsy - My name is Nancy Wise Hamilton. My late husband, Jerry Wise, and I knew you and your parents at Island Home Baptist Church. The two of you were young and probably don’t remember us. You were two cute kids!  I remember your parents so well. Your mother helped with our wedding and both she and your dad were role models to us.  We never forgot their kindness and interest in our lives as we were just beginning. I know they were fine people and admired by many. Please accept my deepest sympathy and know they are long remembered. 

OBITUARY

Oliver S Baldridge

November 9, 1918 – July 30, 2022

Berry Funeral Home

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