Anieta "Earlene" Baum

Anieta Earlene McMullin Baum, age 87, passed away on March 27, 2025, at Butterworth Hospital surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of Hastings Fiber Glass Founder, Earl Lawrence and Virginia (Coggins) McMullin.
Earlene was preceded in death by her brother, Earl Wayne McMullin, her parents, and her husband of 67 years, Larry Baum.
Earlene and her husband Larry met while attending Hastings High School. After graduation, she attended Albion College, and he joined the United States Air Force. They were married in 1956 and moved to Topeka, Kansas, where Larry was stationed, and Earlene worked for the U.S. Government Finance Office at the Air Force Depot. They returned to Hastings when Larry finished his tour of duty in 1959, and they both worked diligently to help establish Earlene's father's business, Hastings Fiber Glass Products.
Earlene took care of all the office operations. She was controller for many years, a member of the Hastings Fiber Glass Board of Directors, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Corporation. She worked at the company her father founded for over 65 years.
Earlene had a love for the Hastings Community and served it in countless ways. She was the first woman to serve on the Hastings City Bank Board of Directors, a position she held for over 20 years. Her service included many years on the grant committee of the Barry Community Foundation, as well as many other board positions, including the Barry County United Way, the YMCA, and the Hastings Women's Club. She also served as President of the Hastings Camp Fire Council.
Earlene had a love for her years at Hastings High School and for the friendships she formed. She organized all of her many class reunions and looked forward to spending time with her classmates. She received the Distinguished Graduate Award for the Class of 1955, and she and Larry received the Buzz Youngs Award and the Liberty Bell Award for their contributions to the community. They were instrumental in making Hastings a "go-to" destination by providing funding to upgrade school, hospital, and community facilities. Major improvements included a dialysis center, a new hospital surgical center, and both the Thornapple Plaza, and the Hastings Performing Arts Center - places for the community to come together and enjoy live entertainment.
Faith and church were an important part of Earlene's life. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for over 70 years, serving as President of the Women's Association, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and Secretary of the Endowment Committee. She sang in the Church Choir for over 46 years.
Surpassing her love for community was Earlene's love for and devotion to her family. Surviving are her first child, Karen (Tim Pederson); son David (Susie), who presented Earlene and Larry with three grandsons: Jason (Becky); Brian (Tauri) and Nick. Son, Kevin (Tamara) added three granddaughters to Earlene's Family: Rachel (Ryne) Larowe, Michelle, and Kayla. Great-granddaughter, Talia Larowe, nieces Jennifer McMullin, Sarah (Rick) Reed, Denise Stolz, and nephews Randy McMullin and Gary Stolz also survive, including double cousins Helen Czaplinski of Arkansas City, KS, and Janice Mullin, of Enid Oklahoma.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 10:00 AM - Noon, with a Funeral Service to follow at Noon at First Presbyterian Church, N. 405 M-37, Hastings, MI 49058. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Barry Community Foundation, (https://www.barrycf.org/giving/), 231 S. Broadway St.; Hastings, MI 49058 or the YMCA of Barry County, (https://ymcaofbarrycounty.campbraingiving.com/), PO BOX 252, 2055 Iroquois Trail; Hastings, MI 49058. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.