Submitted by: Dan Rich

William J. Baldwin

Sept. 7, 1909 - July 31, 2001

South Bend Tribune 8/3/2001

William J. Baldwin of Rochester, Indiana, and Dade City, Florida, passed away in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after a brief illness. He was born in Fountain, Michigan, to William L. & Emma Walters Baldwin. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lois Heeter Baldwin. Also surviving are three children, William (Carolyn) Baldwin of South Bend, Roxie (Steve) Smith of South Bend and Wilma (Richard) Melchiorre of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Grandchildren include: Erik Melchiorre, Greencastle, IN; Dina Wofford, Aurora, CO; Aaron Smith, Indianapolis, IN; Sarah Smith, Chicago, IL; Molly Smith, Indianapolis, IN; William R. Baldwin, Rochester, IN; Bradley Baldwin, South Bend; and Brooke Baldwin, San Diego, CA. A sister, Bernice Henderson of Rochester, IN, also survives. Bill was preceded in death by a brother, George, and five sisters, Mildred Baldwin, Ethel Williams, Bessie Voorhees and infant twin sisters.

Mr. Baldwin was employed by the I&M Electrical Company and retired from there in 1972. In the early years of his retirement, he and Mrs. Baldwin traveled frequently throughout the U.S. and abroad. He was very pleased to have worked on the building of new churches in both Texas and Kentucky. They maintained membership in the Wally Byam Airstream Club International for nearly 30 years. Other membership include the River Park United Methodist Church, where he has been a member for 50 years. He was also active for many years in both Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts of America. More recently, he has been a board member of the Fulton County Historical Society, and a past board member of the I&M Credit Union. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Rochester and the Scottish Rite in South Bend. Among his greatest personal accomplishments were the research and writing of the Baldwin genealogy and the co-authoring of a cookbook of unique recipes called Grandma's Berry Patch, donating all proceeds to the Fulton County Historical Society. Memorials may be made to the River Park United Methodist Church, 920 S. 23rd Street, South Bend, IN, 46615; or the Fulton County Historical Society, 37E 375 N, Rochester, IN 46975.

Services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 4, 2001, in Palmer Funeral Home, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. Rev. Phil Abram, pastor of River Park United Methodist Church, will officiate. Graveside services and burial will be at noon Saturday in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Leiters Ford. The family will receive friends from 2 - 4 & 6 - 8 p.m. Friday in the Palmer Funeral Home where a Masonic Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday.