Obituaries:  Edwin T. Baldridge, Jr., Sabine Parish       B-436
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Dec 11, 1980
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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Edwin T. Baldridge, Jr. (Photo)

  Relatives, friends, and classmates attended memorial services
for Edwin T. Baldridge Jr. of Many, in the First United Methodist
Church, Sunday afternoon, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. Officiating at the
services were the Rev. Luther Taylor, former church pastor, and
the Rev. Ray Spiller, present church pastor. Chuck Mason,
soloist, sang "How Great Thou Art", and "Christ The Solid Rock"
during the services. He was accompanied by Polly Wright, pianist.

  Floral arrangements of every hue flanked the altar, and lined
the aisles of the church, in honor of the young man, who was
killed in an automobile accident Friday night, Dec. 5, at 7:40
p.m., north of Many.

  According to the Louisiana State Police, young Baldridge and a
friend, 19 year old Anthony G. Gentry of Many, were traveling
south on Highway 171 in his 1980 Mazda, when an unknown vehicle
pulled out from A and A Self Service, two miles north of Many.
The brakes were applied to avoid collision, and the Mazda veered
out of control, skidded into the right ditch, and turned over,
ejecting both occupants. The car rolled over the Baldridge boy,
resulting in fatal injuries. He was rushed to Fraser Hospital
North, and died a short time later.

  Gentry received noticeable injuries.

  According to Gentry and witnesses, the vehicle which caused the
accident, pulled over to the side of the road, hesitated, and
then sped away. Officers are now seeking that vehicle, which was
described by Gentry and bystanders.

  Survivors of the young man include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.
T. Baldridge of Many; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Linnie May
Baldridge of Many; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Verne
Miller of Clovis, New Mexico; five sisters, Amanda Lambert,
Sherry Hornsby, and Melissa Hayes, all of Many, Melinda Hardy of
Coushatta, and Mary Pat Lafitte of Newton, Tex.; five
brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces and nephews; aunts.

  In memorial services Sunday, the young man was remembered with
love and kind thoughts.

  Rev. Taylor read a favorite scripture of the young man's "The
Lord is My Shepard". Scriptures from Revelations were also read.

  "Death is difficult to understand and accept," Rev. Taylor told
those present. "Yet, we must accept it even if we don't
understand it."

  Referring to the young man as 'Little Ed', Rev. Taylor said, "We
remember most of all his jovial smile. We can sense that smile as
we look to God in faith."

  Rev. Spiller read a poem, "God Knows Best" by Helen Steiner
Rice, at the request of the family.

  Our Father knows what's best for us,
  So why should we complain.
  We always want the sunshine,
  But He knows there must be rain.
  We love the sound of laughter,
  And the merriment of cheer,
  But our hearts would lose their tenderness,
  If we never shed a tear.
  Our Father tests us often
  With suffering and with sorrow.
  He tests us, not to punish us,
  But to help us meet tomorrow.
  For growing trees are strengthened
  When they withstand the storm,
  And the sharp cut of the chisel
  Gives the marble grace and form.
  God never hurts us needlessly,
  And He never wastes our pain.
  For every loss He sends to us
  Is followed by rich gain.
  And when we count the blessings
  That God has so freely sent,
  We will find no cause for murmuring
  And no time to lament.
  For our Father loves His children,
  And to Him all things are plain.
  So He never sends us pleasure
  When the soul's deep need is pain.
  So whenever we are troubled
  And when everything goes wrong,
  It is just God working in us
  To make our spirit strong.

  Continuing his portion of the service, Rev. Spiller pointed out
the reasons why friends and loved ones gathered to honor the
young man.

  "First of all, we are here to remember Little Ed, and to share
his memory," he said. He talked of love and how the more one
loves, the more love he has, and how sharing grief with others
helps diminish it. "The more we share grief, the less power it
extends into our lives," he said. "We are here to share the grief
with the Baldridge family."

  Remembering Ed, Rev., Spiller said, "I will remember how quiet
and basically shy he was. He worked hard, and was a quiet and
gentle person. He was warmth and concern for others." He
continued, "He was one who loved his family deeply. In a sense he
was a true Baldridge, soft spoken, quiet, steady, and always
there."

  "I think what we will remember most is Little Ed's decision at
the moment of his death," Rev. Spiller continued. "In time of
crises, we can see what a person is really made of." He had the
choice of seeing someone else die, or dying himself."

  He continued, "If one has to see someone die, we would rather
see him die as a brave man. Ed was a man of action at a critical
moment of his life. There is no greater tribute to Little Ed
Baldridge than that."

  To the family, Rev. Spiller directed his next comments, "One of
the most painful experiences is to have a child die, but faith in
the Lord will help ease the pain."

  Graveside services were also held at the Many Cemetery by both
pastors, who offered more prayer. At the close of the services,
boutonnieres worn by the pallbearers, Greg Gentry, Tedd Dumas,
Kenny Weaver, Reymond Coxe, Todd Lafitte, Chris Coffey, Creighton
Manasco, and Johnny Erwin, were lovingly placed on the casket.

  Ed Baldridge graduated from Many High School in Many, 1979, and
was employed by Western La. Video. He was a Cable TV technician.

  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Many.