Obituary: Daniel Scott Baldwin Sr., 82

Daniel Scott Baldwin Sr., husband, father of four and missionary pilot, died at the age of 82. He took off on his final flight, heaven bound, on April 17, 2014 at 7:50 am from his home in Wrangell, Alaska.

He was born July 18, 1931 in Hughson, Calif., the second child of Walter Earl and Eula Fern (Miller) Baldwin. He had three sisters, Wiyizety, Fern and Sylvetta along with one brother, Gordon. He was raised in Northern Calif. on a vineyard.

At the age of 15 he moved to a farm with his aunt, his mother's sister. When he turned 18, he joined the Navy where he was deployed on an aircraft carrier. It was there he first gained experience around airplanes as a mechanics helper.

After getting out of the Navy, Dan went to a Billy Graham Crusade where his life was forever changed. He accepted Christ as his Saviour. While attending Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo., he met and married Anna Mae Rose on August 6, 1955. After starting two churches, one in Coffeyville, Kan. and a second in Bladenboro, N.C., they surrendered to missionary service in Alaska. He started and supported churches in Wrangell, Nome, Fairbanks, and Wasilla, as well as visiting many remote villages, logging camps and towns by plane.

In 1978, the logging camps requested Dan provide flight service assistance to them, and Wrangell Air Service was born. It became a family business. Wrangell Air Service continued to operate until Dan sold the business to Ketchikan Air Service. He continued to work for Ketchikan Air as one of their pilots. In 1991-1992, Ketchikan Air Service received a contract in Antarctica, which led to Dan flying to Chile and then later, to the South Pole.

At the age of 62, Dan had his first stroke and instantly retired as a pilot. Through multiple strokes, brain bleeds and heart attacks he always expressed a strong spirit of determination and cheerfulness.

Dan was preceded in death by his siblings, Wiyizety, Fern and Gordon, his wife Anna Mae and his grandson Alex Metzing.

He is survived by his sister, Sylvetta Ann Flanagan of Redding, Calif.; his children Dana (Don) Van Slyke, Diana (Iver) Nore of Wrangell, Alaska, Dan Jr. (Lisa) Baldwin of Wasilla, Alaska and Mary (Bill) Metzing of Poplar Bluff, Mo; his grandchildren Brandi, Candi, Steven, Jonathan, Joseph, Jason, Joshua VanSlyke; Iver, Matthew and Bert Nore; Dan III (Scott) and Natasha Baldwin; Will, Katrina and Michelle Metzing. He is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Wrangell Bible Baptist Church on Saturday May 3, 2014 at 3 pm. There will be a potluck reception following in the church fellowship hall.