Kenneth Rex Baile

BAILE Kenneth Rex Baile, 95, of Upper Arlington, passed away Tuesday morning, February 28, 2012 with his beloved wife and their four children at his side. Ken was born June 4, 1916, in Cardington, Ohio, to Inez Schofield and Emory Baile. He attended Ohio State University where he joined ROTC, ran track and became president of the national education fraternity Kappa Phi Kappa before graduating in 1938. He joined Travelers Insurance and quickly became one of its top salesmen. In 1941, he was called to active duty as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Corps and later became a member of the 58th Bomb Wing. Ken loved every minute of military service, a career that took him around the world, to bases ranging from Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, to points in Africa, Europe, India, China and Tinian Island during WWII. Upon returning to the states, he spent four years at the Pentagon, rising to the rank of Colonel. He then attended and graduated from the Air War College at Maxwell AFB and moved to Alaska, where he became deputy base commander of Elmendorf Air Force Base. He later joined the National Security Agency where he laid the groundwork for the Joint Service Commendation Medal and became its first recipient. He retired in Colorado Springs after 30 years service. Never one to sit idle, he began a second career as assistant registrar at Ohio State University and became a university supporter through membership in the President's Club. Ken was a gentle, compassionate man; a loving husband and a constant source of inspiration to his children. He was devoted to the ideals of hard work and thrift. He loved Buckeye football, bowling, barbecuing and a good practical joke and he never met a person he couldn't relate to. Many times, he'd come back from errands and begin his story with, "well, we just got to talkin' and" His was truly a life well lived. Ken was preceded in death by his brother, Ralph Baile, and is survived by his wife, Gwen; their children, Sandra (Bob) Plastridge, Michelle Gailiun (Victor Poag), Susan Baile (Tom Tuggle), Stephen (Joyce) Baile; 11 grand-children; 12 great-grandchildren; and sister, Frances McBride. Funeral service will be held at 12Noon Saturday, March 3, 2012 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Rd., where family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in the Military Garden at Forest Lawn Cemetery. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com.