Charles Baird, 83 of Hendersonville, died Thursday, October 4, 2012 at Spring Arbor. He was born August 4, 1929 in Columbus, Ohio, a son of Esther Baird and Reverend Charles Baird, an Episcopal minister who later moved his family to serve at a parish in Pomeroy, Ohio.
Charles graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1947. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and graduated in 1951 with degrees in English and History. Thereafter he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and he met his future wife, Nancy (Hall) Baird on a blind date while stationed in Boston. He proudly served his country during the Korean War. They married on December 22, 1955 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where Charles achieved a Masters in Education from the University of Cincinnati. He eventually moved his family to Madison, Wisconsin, to accept a teaching position with the Madison Metropolitan School District. He achieved a Masters in School Counseling degree in the early 1970s, and he subsequently worked for the Madison schools for many years, spending the bulk of those years as a school guidance counselor at Van Hise Middle School, now known as Hamilton Middle School.
He and Nancy cultivated many dear friendships in Wisconsin, but upon retirement, they became enamored with the warm climate and hospitality of the south. They retired to Etowah, North Carolina in June of 1996, and for many years he was very involved serving with his wife at their church, the Hendersonville Church of God.
In additon to his wife Nancy of Hendersonville, he is survived by David Baird of Portage, Wisconsin, John Baird of Madison, Wisconsin, Katherine (Baird) Chavez of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Mary Lee (Baird) Morkved of California, along with 8 grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Life service at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 17th at the Hendersonville Church of God. Private family burial will be held later at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staffs at Spring Arbor of Hendersonville, Four Seasons Hospice and Bayada Home Health Association for their loving care and support.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.
Service
12:00 AM
Hendersonville Church of God - Directions
2103 Brevard Road
Hendersonville, NC 28791
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