Lyman Rentz Baird Jr.'s Obituary
Lyman Rentz Baird, Jr., 97, formerly of Marietta, died in Austell on February 15, 2016. He was born in Macon, Georgia on December 18, 1918, to Lyman Rentz Baird, Sr. and Laurie Barlow Baird. After graduating from Lanier High School, Mr. Baird worked as a dispatcher for Southern Railroad and served in the 121st Infantry, Georgia National Guard, which was called to active duty on September 16, 1940.
In 1942, Mr. Baird transferred to the newly established 727th Railway Operating Battalion for the duration of WWII, serving in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal for heroism for his actions in Fiumetorto, Sicily on September 23, 1943, when a rail yard containing 110 ten carloads of ammunition and oil caught on fire. He removed sixteen rail cars of ammunition that were directly coupled to eight burning and exploding cars, then helped remove all remaining cars from the area in the face of exploding ammunition and flying shrapnel.
After discharge from military service in 1945, Mr. Baird graduated from Bliss Electrical School in Tacoma Park, Maryland. He attended Georgia Tech, and worked for Lockheed-Georgia in Marietta in the Plant Electrical Engineering Department for more than 34 years, from 1951 – 1985. He resided at Presbyterian Village in Austell since 2004, during which time his mischievous antics led him to be enjoyed and widely loved by the staff.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Baird was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Geneva Davidson Baird, a brother Eugene Baird and a sister LaVerne Baird Murrah. He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Carol Baird and Robert Warlick of Atlanta and Joyce Baird and Jack Middleton of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; son and daughter-in-law Lyman Baird, III and Lisa Baird of Marietta; daughter Laura Baird of Decatur; grandchildren Hannah Baird Middleton of Salida, CO and Maxwell Davidson Middleton of Boone, NC, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at Davis-Struempf Funeral Home in Austell on Friday, February 19, 2016 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Graveside service will be at 11:30 am on Saturday, February 20, at Riverside Cemetery, Macon, Georgia, Rev. Jane Nugent officiating.
The family extends our appreciation to the staff of Presbyterian Village for the loving care it provided to both our father and our mother. We are especially grateful for the special care and companionship given our father by his private caregivers Bevon Small and Gladys Amponsah over the past few years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Baird’s memory to the Caring Hands Fund, Presbyterian Village, 2000 East-West Connector, Austell, GA 30106.
What’s your fondest memory of Lyman Rentz?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lyman Rentz?
Share a story where Lyman Rentz's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lyman Rentz you’ll never forget.
How did Lyman Rentz make you smile?