BAIRD: Roland Walter, 79, died Sept. 5, 2003, in Beckley,
W.Va., where he was an active member of the Beckley
Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. Roland was born Jan. 15, 1924,
in Newport. He graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1942
and just recently attended his 60th high school reunion. He
served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 and attended
Lyndon State College for two years. In his earlier years, he
worked at US Motors in Milford, Conn., as an electrical motor
inspector from 1956 to 1966 and then at the Stinehour Press in
Lunenburg as a pressmen for several years. He retired March 1, 1992,
from his own business. He was a longtime resident of
Lunenburg and a member of the Lancaster Congregation of
Jehovah's Witnesses. Near and dear to Roland were his wife
and four sons with their families. He was greatly loved in
return. He so enjoyed getting together with his entire family at
many reunions. Roland loved to fish and play guitar with his
closest friend, Bill Tower, and in the band in his earlier years.
Roland enjoyed the company of everyone that crossed his path
and had a kind word for all. Some of his last words said to his
wife were, "I had a good life and not to cry too much for him."
For that we thank the family and friends that contributed in a
positive way to giving him that life. He is survived by his wife of
54 years, Ruberta E. Goodwin Baird of Beckley; four sons and
their wives, John and Debbie Baird of St. Johnsbury, Steven
and Mary Baird of Beckley, Brion and Arlene Baird of Tucson,
Ariz., and Kevin and Marilyn Baird of Bethlehem, N.H.; 11
grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren;
four sisters, Marion Wallace of Lyndonville, Gladys Aldrich of
Dallas, Texas, Catherine Simpson of Red Village, and Eunice
Bishop of Wilder; one brother, Richard Baird of Red Village; and
several nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. He
was predeceased by his father, Walter Hoyle Baird; his mother,
Ellen Melissa Magoon Baird; three sisters, Ruth Southouse,
Rena Baird, and Mildred Baird; and one granddaughter, Nicole
Ray Baird. A memorial service will be held in Beckley at the
local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Saturday, Sept. 13,
at 2 p.m., for his friends there. A memorial service in
Lyndonville will be held Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. for his family and
friends at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses located on
the corner of Route 5 and the South Wheelock Road. In lieu of
flowers, donations may be made to the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society and sent by way of Ruberta Baird, 381 Tolbert
Farm Road, Beckley, WV 25801.
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