Merle R. Baldwin, age 80 of Big Rapids, passed away Monday, June 14, 2010. He was born October 10, 1929 in Lawton, MI the only child of Frank and Anna Belle (Grace) Baldwin. Merle graduated from Hartford High School in 1948. During high school he joined the Navy reserves and was honorably discharged in 1951. He married the former Betty Wilson on October 1, 1948. Merle held various jobs during his working career. He had worked for Du-Wel Metal Products in Bangor and when the family moved to Big Rapids in 1968, Merle worked for Root Archery and at Sears as a service repair man; he also established Baldwin Heating and Cooling in Big Rapids. In 1975 Merle and Betty went west for a new career opportunity. Merle joined the I.B.E.W. and worked as an electrician on coal-fired and nuclear power plants. He retired in 1990 from the Savannah River site in South Carolina and returned to Big Rapids to live. Merle was a life member of the Masonic Lodge; he joined the Hartford Lodge and later transferred his membership to Lodge #171 in Big Rapids. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 61 years, Betty Baldwin of Big Rapids; 3 children, David Baldwin of Big Rapids, Deborah (Walt) Obert of Big Rapids, Doreen (Che'rie) Baldwin of Lake Odessa; 4 grandchildren, Scott (Michelle) Baldwin of Wisconsin, Christopher (Amy) Obert of Holland, Laura (Kevin) Rop of Sand Lake, Lacey Baldwin of California and 7 great-grandchildren. Besides his parents, Merle was preceded in death by a son, Douglas Alan Baldwin in 2004 and a daughter-in-law, Tina Baldwin in February of 2010. A memorial service is being planned for July and a service announcement will be printed in a later edition of the Pioneer. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be given to Masonic Lodge #171 in Big Rapids.