Conrad H. (Connie) Baldwin |
| Posted 2009-05-11 by Pat Wilson |
| The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona January 18, 2004 BALDWIN, Conrad H. ~ A Life Remembered Born in Bisbee (August 26, 1911) when it was in The Territory of Arizona, Dr. Conrad Hardy Baldwin graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in 1934, was one of the youngest dentists to ever practice in Arizona and the first to build a bungalow office specifically for dentistry in Arizona. Prior to that time, dental offices were usually located above a bank, a drug store, a theater, or an Elks Club. It was a stucco building with a tile roof and cost $3.65 a square foot. Dr. Baldwin served as president of Northern Arizona Dental Society and was elected president of the Arizona State Dental Association in 1962. He retired in 1973, after practicing in Winslow 39 years and was the oldest living past president of the Association. In addition to building the first bungalow office in Arizona, Dr. Baldwin pioneered in other building projects. He and his wife, Carryl, built the first radiant heated home in Winslow and, after retiring, later built a solar heated home in the Verde Valley. Because of their love for books, both homes included more than twenty feet, floor to ceiling, enclosed book cases; a convenience that was sorely missed later when they moved to Northern California to be close to relatives. Dr. Baldwin was a life-long Mason and was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona in 1955, one of the youngest to ever serve in that capacity, and was the oldest living past Grand Master. On the local level, he served as Worshipful Master of the Winslow Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M.; High Priest of Temple Charter No. 8, Royal Arch Masons; and Eminent Commander of Calvary Commandery. He was a member of the Red Cross of Constantine and served as Puissant Sovereign of that organization. He was the last living charter member of both the Council and Knight Templars Commandery in Winslow. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies in Tucson. Dr. Baldwin was a DeMolay Dad for several years and was elected to the Legion of Honor in 1957. The doctor who was present at Conrad's birth, Dr. Nelson C. Bledsoe, became Grand Master in 1926 (15 years later), and his new patient would be Grand Master in 1955 (45 years later). Dr. Bledsoe was a lifelong friend and would be Conrad's DeMolay dad and also the surgeon who saved his hand, minus a finger, after an accident when he was sixteen, making it possible for him to still realize his dream of becoming a dentist. Although, at first, with the loss of a finger, Conrad thought that dream impossible; but he relearned how to play the clarinet so went on to dental school and, probably, the only four-fingered dentist in the world. With an older brother in the navy, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Connie attempted to enlist after graduation, but was rejected because of that missing finger. Dr. Baldwin served as President of Winslow Rotary Club in 1940 and had a perfect attendance record for a period of 55 years; missing, and not inclined to make up when a brother died. Dr. Baldwin was active in the Boy Scout movement during the years his two sons were members. He chaperoned a bus load of Scouts to the National Boy Scout Jamboree the year it was held at the Irvine Ranch in Santa Ana, California when it was mostly sand dunes; now, an asphalt jungle. There was a twelve-year period when he was a very busy chauffeur driving his children to various 4-H meetings and county fairs where their efforts were on display.. In retirement, both Dr. Baldwin and his wife have become enamored with computers and spent considerable time exploring chair-side exploring...the wonders found on the Internet. In addition to his wife, Carryl, of 64 years, Dr. Baldwin leaves three children: Dr. Gregory Baldwin, a pediatrician in Glen Cove, California; Dr. Bruce Baldwin, a dentist in Phoenix, Arizona; and a daughter, Marsha Halcrow, a reading specialist in Novato, California; also five grandchildren; Eric Baldwin, Daryl Baldwin, Kurt Baldwin, Stephanie Halcrow, and Shelley Halcrow. Visitation was held on Friday, January 23, 2004 at the Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, 2300 West Van Buren Street, Phoenix. Following the service there will be a reception to celebrate Dr. Baldwin's life at 6702 West Aster Drive, Peoria. |
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