SEWANEE -- Charles O'Connor Baird Jr.,
a longtime resident of Sewanee, died on Friday, April 4, 2008, in Chattanooga,
at the age of 85 following a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife, Joan Fitzwater Baird; a son, Charles Bruce Baird and
wife, Sandy; two daughters, Elizabeth Thoni and husband, Joe and Julia Denegre
and husband, Stan; and eight grandchildren, Matt, Lauren and Erin Baird, Amelia
and Stanhope Denegre and Will, Elizabeth and Baird Thoni.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Otey
Memorial Church in Sewanee, with burial following in the University Cemetery.
Mr. Baird was a professor of Forestry at the University of the South for 32
years during which time he helped develop the Natural Resources major, which has
proven to be one of the strongest majors in the college. He also served in
several administrative positions. A native of Knoxville, he graduated from
Knoxville High School and the University of Tennessee. Subsequently, Mr. Baird
earned master and doctoral degrees from Yale and Duke Universities,
respectively. During World War II, Mr. Baird served as an officer in the Army
Corps of Engineers in the Philippine Islands. He was the recipient of the
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze battle star, the Philippine
Liberation Ribbon with bronze star, and the World War II Victory Medal. Mr.
Baird played tennis in his eighties and was an avid outdoorsman. He was an Eagle
Scout and strongly believed in the values it represented.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Snowden Building Renovation
Fund c/o the University of the South, 735 University Ave., University Relations,
Sewanee, TN 37383.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave., N.W., Winchester, TN 37398, (931)
967-2222.
From: Chattanooga Free Press, Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Sent by: John Rennie, Editor, KTSAF Newsletter