Robert “Bob” W. Baird III was welcomed at the Pearly Gates with a resounding “OORAH! Semper fi and job well-done” on June 8, 2022. Born on June 11, 1948 to Edith Shannon and Robert W. Baird, Jr. in Springfield, West Virginia, Bob chose to follow the path of love, kindness, gentleness, and generosity in his life.

As the son of a career airman, Bob lived in many different places as a child including Kansas, Michigan, Virginia, and Madrid, Spain. He joined the Marine Corps in 1967, serving in Vietnam in the First Recon Division from 1968 to 1969 as a reconnaissance man, parachutist, and combatant diver. After returning home from combat, he was stationed at Marine Barracks Washington DC, 8th and I, where he carried the Marine Corps colors in the Honor Guard, and then with Air Squadron HMM-774 at Norfolk Naval Base. He was honorably discharged in 1975 having achieved the rank of Sergeant and earning 12 medals. He also graduated from Old Dominion University with a B.S. in Biology the same year.

On June 10, 1978, Bob married the love of his life, Catherine Lowe of Mobile, Alabama. They and their two daughters moved from Lakeland, Florida to Newark, Delaware in 1988 where Bob worked in Information Technology for several companies over the course of his career until he retired in 2014.

Among many interests, Bob enjoyed learning, especially about history, reading, bowling, and socializing with his many friends. He also enjoyed traveling, which took him to locations across the United States and the world. His travels culminated in 2016 with a visit to Scotland and Ireland, the lands of his ancestors. He also greatly enjoyed puns, taking every opportunity he could to tell jokes that would make his wife and daughters roll their eyes.

Bob said that his three greatest accomplishments in life were his two daughters, Emily and Sarah, and his son-in-law, Grant. In them, he instilled the values of hard work, perseverance, love, and respect. Besides them, Bob leaves behind his beloved wife, Cathy, his brother, Thomas, and family of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and many friends and acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his parents, his cousins, Carolyn Steinla and Jerry Shannon, his first wife, Wanda Swaney, numerous aunts and uncles, and countless brothers and sisters in Vietnam.

A service in remembrance of Bob will take place at 2:00 p.m. sharp on July 8, 2022 at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetary in Bear, Delaware. A celebratory reception will follow from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Newark Senior Center at 200 White Chapel Dr. Newark, DE 19713. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) care of R.T. Foard Funeral Home 122 W. Main St. Newark, DE 19711.