Obituary: RONALD C. BALDWIN
Ronald C. Baldwin (Col. USA retired) passed away peacefully at his home in Lexington, VA on Monday, February 15, 2016.
Ron was born on July 6, 1936 in Savannah, GA to Wingate and Thelma Baldwin, and lived most of his boyhood in Wilmington, NC. Ron graduated from New Hanover High School in 1954, attended NC State University one year, and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1959. His West Point years, and lifelong friends from company G-2, and the fine class of ‘59 shaped this southern gentleman’s life. Service to duty, honor and country became a natural calling, along with a faith in God that shaped all that he did.
Ron received a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and after retirement spent a year at Multnomah Biblical Seminary . He served in the Army for 29 years. Assignments included two tours in Germany, combat service in Vietnam (1969-1970), Field Artillery assignments included Pershing missiles, battery command in Korea, and Battalion Command of the Training Command at Ft Sill, OK. He taught Chemistry at West Point (1967-1969). His later years included Project Manager of Firefinder Radar at Ft Monmouth, NJ. Other duty stations included Ft Bragg, NC, the Pentagon, and Ft Leavenworth, KS . After retirement, Ron and his wife Jeri, spent over 20 years in lay ministry to the military Christian Chapel communities at Ft Monmouth, NJ and the Virginia Military Institute where they worshipped and served at the Cadet Chapel. He and Jeri had a special love for cadets from the USMA prep school and VMI.
He was a lifelong member of the Officer’s Christian Fellowship and served as the OCF local representative in Lexington, VA.
He was past president of the Ft Monmouth Association of the US Army.
Ron met and married his lifetime love of 54 years, Jeri Lynne Wright, in 1962. Her Army Brat upbringing contributed to a love of travel and adventure for them both. They loved outings with their grandchildren and took all 7 grands to Europe. Ron loved his tractors and gardening at his retirement homes.
Ron is survived by his wife Jeri; daughters: Christie McSpadden, Karen Baldwin, and Janis Ours; seven grandchildren: Rebekah, Miriam, Mark, Bethany, Timothy, William and Katie; brother: Wayne Baldwin, sisters: Gail Newton and Susan Walker, and many loving sons-in-law, grand sons-in law, nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.
A viewing is to be held 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Harrison Funeral home in Lexington, VA on Sunday, February 21, 2016. The family will receive visitors at that time.
Funeral services will be held at Jackson Memorial Hall, VMI at 11:00 am on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016. Burial will be at a later date at Arlington Memorial Cemetery with full military honors (TBA).