Fred Bauer

BAUER Fred Fred Bauer, one of the country's leading inspirational writers, died September 17, 2009, at home in State College, PA. He and Shirley, his wife of 56 years, made their home in Englewood, FL, and State College. Bauer penned many bestsellers, including biographies with or about such people as artist Norman Rockwell, Senator Everett Dirksen, poet Helen Steiner Rice, and gospel singer George Beverly Shea. His byline appeared in many national magazines, most frequently Guideposts and Reader's Digest. Bauer wrote more than a dozen books, focusing on travel, family and religion. He also created his own publishing company, Littlebrook Publishing, Inc., in Princeton, NJ. Born in Montpelier, Ohio, on March 30, 1934, the son of Jacob W. (Bud) Bauer and the former Juna Hasford, he began his writing career as a sports editor for the local weekly at age 15. He later became an editor for the Bryan Times and Fort Wayne Journal Gazette before being hired by Norman Vincent Peale to serve as managing editor of Guideposts in New York City. The family made their home in Princeton, New Jersey, for over 35 years. He eventually served the magazine as executive editor. It was during this time that he created a devotional book, Daily Guideposts, which he wrote for two years before it became a multi-authored publication. Today, the popular annual is in its 35th year. His trademark was short poems, which were later published in a book. An Army veteran who served as a public information officer during the Korean War, he edited a service publication in Hawaii, and wrote for the Honolulu Star Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser. It was while he was stationed in Hawaii that he broadcast Major League baseball games over radio, recreating them complete with sound effects. After his two years service stint, he returned to college at Bowling Green State University, where he majored in journalism, graduating in 1957. Following several years of newspapering and sportscasting in Ohio, he went east and joined Guideposts. In 1994, he was awarded BGSU's Distinguished Alumnus Award. He also served on the Bowling Green Alumni board of directors. Bauer was a member of Englewood United Methodist Church in Florida and St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania. He was active in many volunteer activities including the Salvation Army, Hospice, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and the Heifer Project. In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Laraine Bortner (Jan) of State College, Stephen Bauer (Trina) of State College, Christopher Bauer (Laura) of Santa Monica, CA, and Daniel Bauer of Princeton, NJ; his brother, Robert Bauer (Sherry) of Montpelier, Ohio, his sister, Rev. Joy Bauer-Bulla (Wayne) of Algonquin, IL; grandchildren, Jessica Bortner of NYC, Ashley Bortner of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, David Bortner of State College, plus many nieces and nephews who were all loved very much. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, State College, with the Rev. Joseph Faulkner officiating. A second memorial service will be held in Montpelier, Ohio at a later date. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the Fred and Shirley Bauer Scholarship Fund, Mileti Alumni Center, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43404. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College.