Obituary of Vernal R Baldwin

DOB 11/01/1934 DOD 02/10/2024 Obituary provided and written by the family Vernal Roy Baldwin passed on at age 89 in Moses Lake WA on February 10, 2024, in the tender care of Lake Ridge Center's devoted care individuals. He was born November 1, 1934, in Turkey Ford, Oklahoma (nearby to birth registry in Grove, Oklahoma) to Ida Vernal (Pulliam) Baldwin & Roy Walter Baldwin. (The eldest of his 2 siblings, sister Eva, brother Walter.) He moved to Garden City KS at age 3, then to Syracuse KS where he graduated High School in 1953. He mined molybdenum for a time. Also completed John Deere Mechanics Training in Chicago IL. In 1958 he married Mildred Woolery at Lamar Colorado. They lived for a time in Holly CO and had their first-born child Gene Baldwin in Syracuse KS 1959. He moved his family onto the farm & ranch of Ralph & Lela Woolery, his In-Laws and worked in the Construction Industry operating several types of heavy equipment. Being very proficient & skilled in the trade, he accepted work in Española, New Mexico, bringing an expecting Mildred & son Gene with him to the "Land of Enchantment" where daughter Yuvonna was born in 1962. He built flood control dams there & the family was moved near Flagstaff AZ to his next work assignment. The family returned to Lamar Colorado. Vernal purchased land leveling equipment & began his company "V.R. BALDWIN EARTH-MOVING" serving area farmers & utilizing his Transom Equipment skills as well. In 1968 he moved the family & business to Ontario Oregon. His widowed father-in-law joined them & with a large gift to Mildred Baldwin, Vernal, Mildred, & Ralph Woolery developed 5 acres into a mini cattle ranch, with a new home & equipment shop & a large garden. In 1970, Vernal sold his equipment & became a full-fledged John Deere Mechanic in Ontario OR & Emmett Idaho. Being focused to keep expanding Vernal located/purchased 101 acres equidistant to Othello/Connell (east & west) Moses Lake/Pasco (north &south) in Washington State, after selling their property in Oregon and securing employment at Evergreen Equipment in Othello & Connell WA. The family of five, continued to raise Hereford cattle & crops, had 3 horses & a larger garden. In 1974 Vernal accepted work with South Columbia Basin Irrigation District (SCBID) at Wahluke Watermaster Headquarters. He again enjoyed operating heavy equipment in canal maintenance & mowing ditch banks, retiring after more than 40 years with SCBID. Vernal received salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ in his early twenties and continued to be a church member at Othello Christian Church since 1972, serving as Deacon then Elder & on various church boards. He is survived by son Gene Baldwin, daughter Yuvonna Baldwin, Grandchildren; Cerissa, Jeffrey(Yuvonna's children) & Jeremy (Gene's son). Nieces Liesa Field & Debi Kleyn, Nephew Grant Smith (sister Eva's & Everett's children). 3 great Nieces, 3 great Nephews, 10 great great Nieces/Nephews, extended dear family Chad & Shauna Mastre (children Logan, Justin, Brock, & Brandi) Rick & Cindy Mastre, and Mennonite Congregation (Basin City, WA). Vernal was preceded in death by his loving wife Mildred Woolery Baldwin in 2014, his parents Roy & Ida, brother Walter, sister Eva & brother-in-law Everett Smith, his In-Laws Lela (neè Taylor) & Ralph Woolery to name a few of many already passed. Vernal wanted you all to know " Went on ahead to be with loved ones, don't fret, see you!"