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James Baldwin Obituary
Tempe, AZ: 82, formerly of LeRoy, NY, passed away on July 17, 2008, after a hard fight against cancer. Jim was born on June 17, 1926 and lived in LeRoy until moving to Arizona in 1973. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Harriet, and his close companion Beatrice Pratt.
Jim was an active member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church while in LeRoy, and St. Augustine's Episcopal Parish in Tempe. He was a long time member of the LeRoy Olive Branch (Masonic) Lodge #39, and as a Navy veteran, the American Legion Post #576 in LeRoy.
Jim's lifelong passion for drumming progressed from being active in the high school band and the Drum Corps during his early years into an avid jazz and big band drummer for the remainder of his life. He was Traffic Manager for Union Manufacturing Corp. for over 38 years, and worked at Sun State Equipment Corp. in Tempe for 5 years.
Jim is survived by his children, Thomas Baldwin and Linda Packard; Nancy Baldwin; Joyce and Kim Westfall; Douglas Baldwin; three grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Monday, July 21, at St. Augustine's Episcopal Parish in Tempe followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Donations can be made in Jim's memory to St. Augustine's in Tempe or St. Mark's Church in LeRoy.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Baldwin
5 Entries
Reed Sarbou
August 5, 2008
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Doug Baldwin
July 23, 2008
Dad was my father, and set a wonderful example to follow. He was a man of service to his God & country & community. Dad loved the friendly neighborhood "competition" between Murray, Tom, & himself to see who could get their American flag up the earliest each day (Murray always won!) He loved to play good-natured tricks on his friends and children, and a water balloon fight was never off limits. Dad was a wonderful man, and was marked by his ability to treat every person he encountered with warm, loving, respect. I will surely miss him.
Dick Murray
July 21, 2008
Tom, Nancy, Joyce and Doug,
I am sorry to hear of your father's death.
Since Tom called me last week, I have been thinking about growing up on North Street. There are lots of good memories. I drove by Sheards today and I remember the trips for ice cream in those big station wagons your father used to drive.
I still chuckle over Tom telling his dad that he could never catch him. Tom ran out the side door and down the steps. Mr. B took the short cut off the porch and proved Tom wrong.
I know the four of you can take alot of comfort in knowing that you had the best parents.
Greta Huls
July 21, 2008
I first met Jim in 1979 and he was never anything but loving and accepting of me. He called me family and even asked my to give the eulogy at Harriet's service 13 years ago.
Jim exemplified 1 Cor. 13:4 (paraphrased) to me: Jim was patient; Jim was kind; Jim was not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. He did not insist on his own way; he was not irritable or resentful; he did not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoiced in the truth.
God bless you, Jim. I shall miss you. You and your family are in my prayers.
Tom & Joann Gill
July 20, 2008
"James B" was the most outstanding neighbor for 33 1/2 years. We will miss him greatly. James B was always the first in the neighborhood to put up his Christmas lites, and we held our breath when he put up the Star on his roof. As a parting gift, we left him our 16' ladder when we moved, much to the dismay of his daughter Nancy... Jim & Harriet made our family feel welcome by including us in many of his families events when we moved to Tempe.
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