Our most loyal friend traded his cancer for wings on Monday June 12, 2023. The Lord came gently and quietly to get him at his home surrounded by lots of family and love.
His kind and gentle nature provided comfort to the people who knew they could come to him for anything they needed. His understanding and fairness instead of judgement of others always allowed you to bring your true self. His steadfast and consistent character in any day you saw him allowed you to always be nobody but yourself, to just come to him as you were. And he would help you. No questions asked. He was a man of honor and even though he never demanded respect he was just one of those people that you felt safe giving that too. His loyalty was far above many, and he gave his loyalty in the purest of ways, whether you deserved it or not. He was a man who was so humble that he never really knew how much he was truly loved by all. He was a man of few words. Some may have even called him a loner. But when he spoke you listened.
He always held much love for his siblings and showed them how much he loved them when they called. Every year he looked forward to his sister Elaine & husband Benny and their trip to the Dillard House to eat in Georgia and their sporadic trips to Dollywood. He enjoyed visiting his sister Shirley and Tommy’s family through the holidays. He was always little brother Randall’s keeper. He always loved getting to be a big brother to Terri. She could count on him. And his sister Sheila & Richard, he always was happy when they came to visit. And their love ran deep. As the oldest brother, he was the anchor. He was always solid in his ways. Always, he was there.
But the love he gave his children and grandchildren surpassed many men in this world. Not a day went by that we didn’t know his love. With him in heaven now, there is a hole in us all that cannot be substituted by another. He worked hard his whole life from the time he was a child. He started out with a paper route, then he joined the Army at 17 where he served in Panama. His job was Artillery. When he came home, he joined GE for a few years and moved to Selee where he dedicated many years all while doing people’s lawns on the side just to make ends meet. Then in 2005 he stepped out on his own to start a family business doing tree work & landscaping. He had many hobbies that he enjoyed: hiking mountains, fishing, swimming, skating, riding our motorcycles, Jeeping & mud crawling, water skiing. Just anything to be outside. Even if it was fixing an old mower or getting an engine to run again in an old Jeep, there was nothing he couldn’t bring back to life and then he’d say “It is ALIVE!”
As we all found we were getting ready to begin his walk through cancer, his kids, grandkids, siblings and friends gathered together to take care of him and not one day did we hear him complain through his sickness. Our dad was a true gentleman and a mountain of a man. They just don’t make them like him anymore. June 12th the world lost a good one and can honestly say he left this world better than he found it. His wings have taken him to a place we all are striving to go. It is no longer our hugs and love that embrace him, but the Lord’s. He was always the better man in every situation and not one time was he not a hand up if you needed one.
He leaves behind a son and daughter-in-law, Justin & Stephanie Baldwin, and their children Wyatt and Olivia. A daughter, Amber, and her children Cameron & wife Chloe Johnson, Erin, & Rayah. A brother Randall. Four sisters: Shirley & Tommy McCall, Sheila & Richard Morris, Elaine & Benny, and Terri Baldwin. Lots of nieces and nephews. His in-laws who loved him. Friend Jim & Dog Ole Murphy. Preceded in death by his father Joe Ray Baldwin, mother Martha Jackson, brother Jerry Baldwin, mother of his children and only true love Sheila Osteen Baldwin, and his best childhood friend Randy Marshall.
His chair now sits empty, but his love is still all around. We are all sure going to miss you. You were so many people’s rock to lean on. Dad, this isn’t goodbye. This is we will see you later. In lieu of flowers (because Dad wasn’t a flower kind of guy), please consider sending a donation to help feed or adopt dogs that are in need, at a location of your preference. That was what Dad was about.
Service will be held July 8, 2023, at 12:00pm. Doors open at 11:30am. Hendersonville Church, 1705 Spartanburg Hwy, Hendersonville, NC.
The family has entrusted Jackson Funeral Service with the arrangements.