DATE: Saturday, November 8, 1997            TAG: 9711080230

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   38 lines

L. JAMES BAIRD

U.S. Navy Retired Capt. L. James Baird died Nov. 7, 1997, after a long illness.

He was born in DeWitt, Iowa, April 14, 1911, the son of Herbert J. and Kathryn Haring Baird. He graduated from DeWitt High School in 1929 and from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935.

He was married to Jeanne Somers (deceased) of Long Beach, Calif. in 1937. Their daughter, Terry Baird Jones, resides in Virginia Beach. On Jan. 10, 1954, he married Kyle Foley of Berryville, Va., a Lt. Nurse Corps U.S. Navy. They had one son, James F., also residing in Virginia Beach.

Capt. Baird served on the Helena CL50 during the attack on Pearl Harbor and when the ship was sunk in Kula Gulf, July 6, 1943. He earned 11 Battle Stars in World War II, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Bronze Star for his service in the Pacific. He commanded the USS Goodrich DDR831, ComDesDiv 182/192, USS Chukawan AO 100, the Service Schools, Great Lakes, Ill., and the Naval Ammunition Depot, Crane, Ind. He was a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and obtained his master's degree in education at Indiana University.

Upon retiring from the Navy in 1961, he taught math and naval science at North Chicago, Ill., High School until retirement in 1976. In 1978, he and Kyle moved from Lake Bluff, Ill. to Charles Town, W.Va. He was an active member of the Charles Town Presbyterian Church as well as the American Legion, the Adams Stephens Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Charles Town Evening Kiwanis Club, and 40 and 8 Voiture No. 1356, Charles Town.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m Tuesday in the Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town. Immediately following the service, the family will receive friends at the Presbyterian Church, E. Washington St., Charles Town. Burial will be in the family plot, DeWitt, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice. KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY

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