Melvin A. Baer - 1916-2009
Melvin A. Baer, 92, went to be with his Lord on Friday, Feb. 28, 2009, while in Kings Daughters Medical Center in Ashland. He was born May 8, 1916, the son of the late Bert F. and Margaret Slone Baer.
He was a retired postal worker with the Ashland Post Office and served in the U .S. Army Air Corps as a Private First Class. He was a Kentucky Colonel and a long time member of Grace Church of the Nazarene.
He also was preceded in death by two brothers, David Baer and Curtis Baer; one sister, Margaret Peggy Steenbergen; a granddaughter, Robin Carol Baer Efta; a great-grandson, Dale Edwin Jordan Jr.; and stepchildren, Charles Oliver and Judy Oliver.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lucille; three brothers, Charles (Polly) Baer and George (Mary Lou) Baer, all of Burlington, N.C., and Leslie (Sue) Baer of Flatwoods; two sons, Larry Joe Baer of Greenup and Tony (Carolyn) Baer of Ashland; two daughters, Sharon (Ed) Castledine of Nampa, Idaho, and Elizabeth (Jerry) Hall of Ashland; two stepchildren, Betty (Ray) Lippert of Vanceburg and Robert Oliver of Portsmouth, Ohio; 21 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; special friends, Jim Hogsten and Screech Nelson; and a special cousin, Carl W. Jackson.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland, with Pastor Richard Suman officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Ironton, with military graveside rites by The American Legion Post 93 of Kenova, W.Va.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and one hour before the services on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Larry Joe Baer II, Michael Baer, Justin Woods, Ed Castledine Jr., Darren Oliver, Eric Oliver, Chuck Medina and Drew Oliver
Honorary pallbearers are Howard Hanks, Greg Stevens, Rob Francis, Rick Porter and Tim Roberts.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace Church of the Nazarene, 2413 South 29th Street, Ashland, Ky. 41101.
Online condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com.
