Joseph Rodney Baird

In the early morning hours of Thursday, December 19, 2024, Joseph Rodney Baird, of Ballinger, Texas, breathed his last earthly breath, surrounded by his children who sat vigil with him in his final days. Joe was born on February 19, 1951, in San Angelo, Texas, to Dale and Evelyn (Jones) Baird and was the fourth of five sons. Joe was raised in Ballinger and graduated from Ballinger High School in 1969. He briefly attended Angelo State University, where he met his future wife, Joan Womack.

Joe and Joan married in March 24,1972, and the newlyweds moved to Houston for a short period before relocating to San Angelo and, later, Ballinger. There, they owned The General Store and helped manage  the family restaurant, The Texas Grill. Eventually, Joe began work in law enforcement as a Ballinger police officer, EMT, and a supervisor for Texas Youth Commision. Joe and Joan raised a family with five daughters and three sons. 

Joe was a fun-loving guy. He loved jokes and pranks and adventure, and he brought charm and wit to any situation. Anyone who knew him wanted to be around him. His charismatic personality drew people to him, and he was lovingly known by many of his children's friends as Papa Joe. He offered all he encountered counsel and wisdom, but more importantly, empathy and understanding. He had a deep faith in God and the Church, and he found solace in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the love of the Blessed Mother. It was through this faith that he was able to love all those he encountered with a love like Jesus. 

Joe's true legacy, though, are his children and grandchildren. He and his wife have created a family of 50 and growing. They have instilled in those children the importance of faith and family with an emphasis on the idea of being together. This was highlighted in the last days of his life as his room was filled to overflowing with each son and daughter, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and all the grandchildren. Each had the opportunity to sit vigil with him, pray with him, and love on him up to the very end. 

Joe is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Stephen. He is survived by his wife, Joan, and children,  Elizabeth and Dwayne White, Mike and Amy Baird, Nick and Erin Baird, Rebecca and Tim Siler, Sara and Richard Lindley, Matthew and Jessica Baird, Joanna and Bo Davis, and Samantha and Jesse McIntyre. Thirty-three grandchildren survive, Joseph (Cathryn), Hannah, Lawson, Magdalen, Abigail, Emily, Allison, Meredith, Madelyn, Samuel, Joshua, Christine, Michael, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Rance, Emma, Bethany, Addison, Grace, Katherine, Claire, Andrew, John, Paul, Jacob, Anna, Nicole, Regina, James, Isabella, Helen, and Stella, along with one great grandson, John. He is also survived by his brothers, Mike and wife Peggy, Bill and wife Sharon, and Martin and wife Cheryl, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. 

A rosary for Joe will be held on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at 5:30 pm at Lange Funeral Home. His Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Friday, December 27th at 11:00 am, also at the chapel at Lange Funeral Home.  Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Ballinger, Texas.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Ballinger Healthcare and Rehabilitation for their kindness and compassion in caring for Joe. Special thanks also goes out to Sarai Cox and Selena Miller of Gentiva Hospice for their loving friendship and help as Joe moved through these last few months.