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This obituary appeared in the Bernice Banner May 4, 2001


JOHN T. (JACK) BALDWIN

John T. (Jack) Baldwin, 74, died Wednesday, April 25 at his home in Bernice, Louisiana, 
of pancreatic cancer. Prior to his death he chose to donate his brain to the Parkinson's 
Disease Foundation for research, so there will be no interment service. Baldwin was a 
long-standing member of the Unitarian Universalist faith, and a memorial tribute was held 
Saturday, April 28 at 11:00 a.m., under direction of Farrar's Funeral Home in the, 
Farmerville chapel. Tributes will be made by Bob Toburen, Ruston, Louisiana; George Amos, 
Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Billy Ross O'Bannon, Bernice, Louisiana.
He is survived by his wife, Winnifred Smith Baldwin; three sons: John W and his wife 
Marilyn Gibson of Shreveport; Robert M. (Bob), his wife Lynda Garr and their two children, 
West and Parker of Bernice; and Christopher Thomas (Chris) of Dallas, Texas.
The deceased was born in Bernice, and graduated from Bernice High School, was a member of 
the U.S. Merchant Marines, and the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the Aleutian 
Islands. He obtained an M.A. in History and a B.A. in Journalism from LA Tech where he 
served as editor of The Tech Talk
Baldwin served the U.S. Postal Service in Bernice for 37 years, retiring as Postmaster in 
1983. He was elected State President of the Louisiana Branch Of the National League of 
Postmasters and editor of the pelican Postmaster newsletter, receiving the Louisiana 
Postmaster Of the Year Award in 1983.
After retirement as world travel writers, he and Winnie published numerous articles for 
national, local newspapers and regional and magazines.
They coauthored five travel guide books. on Louisiana and Mississippi for Pelican 
Publishing Company in Gretna, LA.
The couple received a Success Award from the LSU Agricultural Extension Service and the 
Louisiana Sea Gran College program in 1998, at the Rural Tourism Development Conference, 
for their Publication and promotion of the Louisiana Bed & Breakfast Industry and a 
Certificate Of Appreciation for Economic Developement from the LSU Agricultural Extension 
Service/Union Parish Lunch Bunch. They were also recipients of the Union Parish Chamber of 
Commerce on Outstanding Citizen Award for Community Service in 1998.
Baldwin was a charter member of the Bernice Historical society and was curator of the 
Bernice Depot Museum, helping to establish the Captain Henderson Kids Caboose as a  
children's museum exhibiting memorabilia and artifacts from four historic Periods. He served 
as Chair of the Bernice Historic District Commission; charter member, secretary, and recent 
Vice-President of Bernice Industrial, Development Corporation (BIDCO). He was a member of 
the Bernice Business Club; Union Parish Tourist Commission; Piney Hills Country Association, 
and Louisiana Travel Promotion Association.
The family has requested that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or the Bernice 
Historical Society, P.O. Box 186, Bernice, LA 71277

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