Warren Baird
G. Warren Baird, 82, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. A lifetime resident of Tipton County, he was born in Windfall on November 17, 1939 to Chester and Martha (Findling) Baird. He graduated Sharpsville-Prairie High School in 1957 and attended Tri-State University. He married Judy (Ryan) Baird on April 11, 1959. Warren worked at Delphi (Delco) Electronics for 31 years and retired in 1994. He owned farms in Tipton and Greene counties. He is survived by his second wife Sharon (Starkey) Baird; they married on September 18, 2011.
After retirement he worked as a Crop Adjuster for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Warren was a former Vice-President of the National Woodland Owners Association and President and Treasurer of the Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owner’s Association. He was a member of the Indiana Natural Resources Commission Advisory Council, Tipton County Council, Northern Nut Growers, American Forestry Association, Walnut Council, Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation, Indiana Project Learning Tree, Indiana Wildlife Federation, and Woodland Steward Institute.
Warren was an avid weather observer for the National Weather Service (NWS) from 1976-2020. He received the NWS’s John Campanius Holm Award, Thomas Jefferson Award, and 30-Year Service Award. Additionally he was designated Indiana’s First Classified Wildlife Habitat Area in 1980. Warren previously served as the State Director of the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) and Supervisor and Chairman of the Tipton County SWCD. Additional awards include the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservationist of the Year (1993), Indiana Tree Farmer of the Year (1997), Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owner’s Association Charles Deam Stewardship Award (2013), and the Tipton County SWCD’s Lifetime Leadership Award (2022).
Warren is survived by his wife Sharon; children Carol Jo (Steve) Christenberry, Greg Warren (Amy) Baird, and Brent Ryan Baird, all of Atlanta; step-son David Fidler II of Fort Wayne; grandchildren Stephanie (Seth) Polley, Kyle Baird, Laura (Rob) Gonzalez, and Emily Christenberry; step-grandchildren Greta, Nate, and Owen Fishback and Allerdyce and Neve Fidler; great-grandchildren Madilyn & Lia Villars, Aiden Baird, and Lyla & Gwyneth Gonzalez.
Warren is also survived by his brothers Allen (Rachel) Baird, Leon (Jackie) Baird, Mark (Linda) Baird; brothers-in-law Garry (Mickey) Ryan, Butch (Linda) Starkey, John (Carol) Starkey, and Bob (Kathy) Starkey; sister-in-law Nita (Rick) Warren; and several nieces and nephews. Warren was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Glen Ryan, mother-in-law Georgia Ryan, brother Richard Baird, brother-in-law Jerry Ryan, sister-in-law Beverly Baird, nephew Richard Ryan, niece LaRonda Ison, and his first wife, Judy.
Warren enjoyed forestry, farming, traveling the 50 states, spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and was an active member of East Union Christian Church. He will be remembered for his passion for the outdoors and his dry wit.
Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 9 at East Union Christian Church with the Rev. Mark Knapp presiding. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. Monday until time of the service at the church. Private family burial will be in Union Cemetery at a later date. Young-Nichols Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Baird family.
Memorial contributions may be made to East Union Christian Church, 1711 E 296th Street, Atlanta, Indiana, 46031.
Carol Jo, Greg, Brent, Sharon and all the Family,
I am so very sorry for your loss and am heartbroken along with you. He was the BEST of the BEST in everything he did in life. I have so many loving, precious memories of Uncle Warren and I will miss him deeply. I do smile when I think he is finally with Aunt Judy again. I love you all, and you are in my prayers today and in the days to come. Hold on tightly to all your precious memories, and may God bless and comfort you and give you peace. Rest in Heaven, Uncle Warren…. until we meet again. ❤️
He loved you dearly Sheila.
So sorry Sharon …..May he rest in peace !
Thank you Tom.
Prayers for God’s Peace and comfort in your Family’s time of Grief 🙏
Ruthann Brooks Irvin
Thank you Ruth.
I am so sorry to hear this. Warren was truly one of my favorite people. He will be sincerely missed. My condolences to his family.
Our hearts go out to all of Warren’s family and friends. We will always remember the Indiana Baird Reunions and all the fun we had.
Much Love,
The Raymond Baird Family
Judy was a good friend of mine .. we grew up in the Old Rock Prairie Baptist Church on 19 where Heartland is now from around the corner.
Warren and I graduated from Sharpsville High School and Judy of course Tipton High School. I graduated and married and hadn’t talked to
either of them for a long time. Mom and Dad went to church where Warren’s parents went out in Nevada. Mom got all the news from Warren’s mother, and said she was getting a daughter-in-law, which was Judy. That was the first I new of them even going together… so many years past
and we bought the chicken farm north of them… been friends for a lot of years.. Warren was not a big talker. The last time I talked with him he was having eye problems.. Sure am sorry to hear this new about Warren..
He was a very good neighbor… Rest in peace