Jerald Wayne Baldwin was born in Bethany, Oklahoma on March 8, 1951 to Frank and Audie. During his childhood, his parents moved him and his older brother, Dwight, between Ponca City and Fort Worth where he began playing baseball and football and showed a talent for math. His first job was a paperboy, rising early to deliver newspapers to customers. He bought a motorcycle so he could complete his route faster, waking neighbors with its throaty growl at 4am. He may or may not have ridden this same motorcycle through the halls of East Junior High School in Ponca City. The family moved to Houston when Jerald was in ninth grade, but his heart stayed in Oklahoma, and he returned his senior year to graduate high school as a Ponca City Wildcat. He attended Bethany Nazarene College, studied accounting, and graduated from Central State in 1974. During this time, he worked as a carpenter, mechanic, and oil platform technician in the Gulf of Mexico. He wed Nancy Quinn and they had two sons, Matt and Justin. He started working as a CPA for Willard Kennedy and soon thereafter started his own firm, Baldwin and Company. He inspired his son to follow in his footsteps and together, side-by-side, they battled daily for their clients’ interests, not only in Oklahoma City, but Perry as well. He also ran Geronimo Manufacturing, an oil derrick escape device for oil workers, based out of Perry.

In 1992, he wed Diane Wood and welcomed Sumer, Jason and Sundi into his heart. He spent much of his free time attending church services regularly, riding motorcycles with his best friend Jim, dragging kids behind his ski boat, playing golf, watching his grandchildren grow up, playing pool and poker, fishing, drinking Coors Lights with his other best friend Joe, driving his vintage Austin Healey for ice cream, smoking and grilling meat for family gatherings, hiding thousands of Easter eggs for both his children and grandchildren, and traveling to many places such as Lake City, Colorado, Branson, Canada, Panama, Alaska, Italy and Mackinaw Island. Throughout his life, he was a caring, supportive and loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a treasured friend to many.

Jerald “JB/Cheeks/Lonnie/ Balls” Baldwin passed away on February 8 due to complications from Alzheimer’s. He was preceded in death by his mother, Audie, and his older brother, Dwight. He is survived by his father, Frank, his loving wife of 30 years, Diane, his children, Sumer (Scott), Matt (Leslie), Jason (Amanda), Justin (Nicole) and Sundi; and his grandchildren, Nickolas (Megan), Cody, Julianna, Bennett, Kati Grace, Mabrie, Kate, Eliotte, Mallory, and Jonah. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Delynda, her three children and six grandchildren.

A man of unshakable faith in Jesus, we know we will see JB again. He faced trials in life with courage, conviction, and a good dose of dry humor. We thank the Lord for His provision in sending wonderful doctors and caregivers to care for JB. A special thank you to Dr. Brian Levy, Frontier Hospice, nurse Shannon, Magda, Irene, and Barbara. JB spent the last few months of his life at Vitality Memory Care where he was well cared for and loved. The family of Jerald Baldwin would also like to thank the pastoral team at Crossings Community Church for their caring and attentive ways.

JB would say he was 71 at the day of his death, but according to him, he was never that good with numbers....

Memorial services will be Wednesday, February 15, 11:00am at Crossings Community Church Chapel, OKC. Visitation will be Tuesday, 9am-8pm at Mercer-Adams. To share a memory or condolence, visit www.merceradams.

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