J. Louis "Louie" Baird,
92, of Mendota passed
peacefully from this life
on March 3, 2013.
Services will be at 11 a.m.
Thursday in Merritt Funeral Home,
Mendota with Deacon Vincent
Slomian officiating. Burial will be
at Holy Cross Cemetery, Mendota
with military rites by VFW Post
4079.
Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Wednesday
at the funeral home.
Lou was born Jan. 23, 1921, at
home in Victoria to Jesse Lee and
"Susie" Sarah Melinda Susannah
(Smith) Baird. He married Florence
"Mickey" Funfsinn on Sept. 1,
1953, in Sts. Peter and Paul Church,
Peterstown.
Lou served with the U.S. Army
during World War II in the European
Theater of Operations and returned
home in 1945 to be one of six men
to assist H. D. Hume in the starting
of Hume's company. He continued
to work as head of maintenance at
that company through its various
incarnations, finally retiring in 1984
from HCC Inc., Mendota. Lou also
learned the masonry trade, working
with Bob Preston and assisted in
the bricklaying of the VFW post
4079 home in Mendota, conceiving
and executing the Post name on the
front of the building. As one of the
founding members of Post 4079,
Lou was active in various positions
and activities, including past commander
and served as officer of the
day for Veterans Memorial Council
until health issues prevented him
from continuing on in that capacity.
Although his formal education
stopped at eighth grade, Lou was a
well-read and self-taught man, able
to easily solve problems and converse
on many subjects. He enjoyed
hunting, fishing, mushroom hunting
and mowing. For many years his
was a familiar face as the polling
place opened, usually being
the first to vote in all elections.
Upon his retirement, he spent many
hours driving around town with his
canine friend Bud in the co-pilot
seat, a friend he refused to replace
with any other. He was known for
his love of feeding squirrels and
sporting an "I brake for squirrels"
bumper sticker on his car.
He is survived by his wife;
one daughter, Pat (Gary) Sessler
of Mendota; one son, John (Kris)
Baird of Troy Grove; seven grandchildren,
Staci, Amber, Justin and
Finn Sessler and Peyton, Bailey
and Jace Baird; and four greatgrandchildren,
Savannah, Storm
and Serenity Hannen and Austin
Sessler.
He was preceded in death by
his parents; two brothers, Lloyd
and Donald; four sisters, Dorothy
Bickett, Margaret Thomas,
Catherine Tower and Evelyn
Roulston Karkless; and one greatgranddaughter,
Skye Margaret
Hannen.
Memorials may be directed to
VFW Post 4079 or the family.