Richard W. Baldwin

Richard W. Baldwin of West Chester Richard W. Baldwin, 91, passed away on April 8, 2012 at the Neighborhood Hospice In-Patient Unit in West Chester. Richard "Dick" was married to the late Kathryn B. Baldwin for 61 years. He was a long time member of the Willistown United Methodist Church in Newtown Square. Born in Needham, Mass., he was the son of the late Ralph Wesley Baldwin and Grace Evans Walden Baldwin. Dick grew up in Springfield, graduating from Springfield High School in 1938. Just last year, he was inducted into their Hall of Fame for the Arts in a ceremony which he attended. He was also an Army/Air Force veteran of World War II having served in the Pacific theater primarily on Iwo Jima. Dick was a versatile illustrator, sculptor, and painter with a career spanning almost 50 years. After high school, he won a Cresson Fellowship to study illustration at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Upon completion of his military service, he enjoyed painting early in his career. He produced several large murals locally and along the way developed a keen interest in the American West. This eventually led him to adapt the Howard Pyle / Wyeth style of art illustration. At the personal encouragement of N. C. Wyeth, Dick traveled the American West, Mexico, and Canada to further develop his craft. Many of Dick's paintings and illustrations were published nationally in the Saturday Evening Post and American History Illustrated among others. After many years in national advertising and illustration, he joined the newly founded Franklin Mint in 1965. He was their first Art Director and later became their Senior Master Sculptor. Over the next 21 years, he personally designed and sculpted more than 600 coins, medals, and 3D bronze/pewter figures before retiring in 1986. Dick's American West and military themes are prominent in the hundreds of paintings he produced over his lifetime. His works have been displayed in the Smithsonian Institution, the Texas Trails Gallery in San Antonio, U. S. Air Force Academy, and The University of Texas. He recently donated many of his paintings and drawings to the Military Collection of the John Hay Library at Brown University, Providence, R.I. He is also recognized in the Congressional Record as a combat artist in World War II. He is survived by son Ralph W. Baldwin of Camarillo, Calif., son Daniel W. Baldwin of Downingtown and daughter Amanda A. Moore of Stansbury Park, Utah; along with four grandchildren, Charles and Brittany Baldwin and Daniel and Whitney Moore. Relatives and friends are invited to his graveside service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, at Birmingham-Lafayette Cemetery, 1235 Birmingham Road, West Chester. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1626 Locust St., Attention Memorials, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Arrangements are being handled by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc., West Chester, 610-696-1181 www.DellaFH.com.