The Red River Sun March 11, 2015
Vernon Hardin Baird of Del City, passed away March 1, 2015 at the age of 90.
He was born in Brawley, CA to Johnnie Hardin and Opal Marie (Ritchie) Baird.
Vernon spent most of his childhood in Dodson, attending the Kelly School and
graduating from Dodson High School.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June 1943, at the age of 19. Following
training as a B-17 Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, Vernon was assigned to
the 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group (H), 322 Bomb Squadron stationed at Air Force
Station 121, Blassingbourn, England (known as the "Ragged Irregulars").
From November 1944 to May 1945, he completed 35 missions (the majority on the
"Lewd Angel") and participated in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central European
campaigns. Vernon's awards included the European-African-Middle East Service
Medal with three Bronze Stars and the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters.
He was discharged as a Technical Sergeant in October 1945, then served as a
member of the Oklahoma National Guard, 120th Combat Engineer Company from April
1949 to April 1950.
Following WWII, Vernon worked in Hollis as an auto mechanic, where he met his
future wife, Joy Colleen Kilmer of Jones. In 1955 they moved to Oklahoma City,
where Vernon worked for Chick Coker Pontiac as a service manager.
In 1960 Vernon began a successful career with the U.S. Postal Service. He
retired in 1986, with 30 years of government service.
Vernon then worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Association until 2004 as a
Security Guard at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Vernon was a loving husband
and father. He loved fishing and spending time with family and friends and will
be greatly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joy Colleen (Kilmer) Baird;
three sisters, Verna Mae Underwood, Sara Worley and Johnny Lou Branch; a
great-grandson, Kory Ingle.
He is survived by his three daughters; a son; seven grandchildren; fourteen
great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Vernon is a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and
the 91st Bomb Group (H) Memorial Association.
-------------------------
Vernon Hardin Baird of Del City, passed away March 1, 2015 at the age of 90.
He was born in Brawley, CA to Johnnie Hardin and Opal Marie (Ritchie) Baird.
Vernon spent most of his childhood in Dodson, attending the Kelly School and
graduating from Dodson High School.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June 1943, at the age of 19. Following
training as a B-17 Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, Vernon was assigned to
the 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group (H), 322 Bomb Squadron stationed at Air Force
Station 121, Blassingbourn, England (known as the "Ragged Irregulars").
From November 1944 to May 1945, he completed 35 missions (the majority on the
"Lewd Angel") and participated in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central European
campaigns. Vernon's awards included the European-African-Middle East Service
Medal with three Bronze Stars and the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters.
He was discharged as a Technical Sergeant in October 1945, then served as a
member of the Oklahoma National Guard, 120th Combat Engineer Company from April
1949 to April 1950.
Following WWII, Vernon worked in Hollis as an auto mechanic, where he met his
future wife, Joy Colleen Kilmer of Jones. In 1955 they moved to Oklahoma City,
where Vernon worked for Chick Coker Pontiac as a service manager.
In 1960 Vernon began a successful career with the U.S. Postal Service. He
retired in 1986, with 30 years of government service.
Vernon then worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Association until 2004 as a
Security Guard at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Vernon was a loving husband
and father. He loved fishing and spending time with family and friends and will
be greatly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joy Colleen (Kilmer) Baird;
three sisters, Verna Mae Underwood, Sara Worley and Johnny Lou Branch; a
great-grandson, Kory Ingle.
He is survived by his three daughters; a son; seven grandchildren; fourteen
great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Vernon is a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and
the 91st Bomb Group (H) Memorial Association.
-------------------------
The Red River Sun March 11, 2015
Vernon Hardin Baird of Del City, passed away March 1, 2015 at the age of 90.
He was born in Brawley, CA to Johnnie Hardin and Opal Marie (Ritchie) Baird.
Vernon spent most of his childhood in Dodson, attending the Kelly School and
graduating from Dodson High School.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June 1943, at the age of 19. Following
training as a B-17 Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, Vernon was assigned to
the 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group (H), 322 Bomb Squadron stationed at Air Force
Station 121, Blassingbourn, England (known as the "Ragged Irregulars").
From November 1944 to May 1945, he completed 35 missions (the majority on the
"Lewd Angel") and participated in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central European
campaigns. Vernon's awards included the European-African-Middle East Service
Medal with three Bronze Stars and the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters.
He was discharged as a Technical Sergeant in October 1945, then served as a
member of the Oklahoma National Guard, 120th Combat Engineer Company from April
1949 to April 1950.
Following WWII, Vernon worked in Hollis as an auto mechanic, where he met his
future wife, Joy Colleen Kilmer of Jones. In 1955 they moved to Oklahoma City,
where Vernon worked for Chick Coker Pontiac as a service manager.
In 1960 Vernon began a successful career with the U.S. Postal Service. He
retired in 1986, with 30 years of government service.
Vernon then worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Association until 2004 as a
Security Guard at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Vernon was a loving husband
and father. He loved fishing and spending time with family and friends and will
be greatly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joy Colleen (Kilmer) Baird;
three sisters, Verna Mae Underwood, Sara Worley and Johnny Lou Branch; a
great-grandson, Kory Ingle.
He is survived by his three daughters; a son; seven grandchildren; fourteen
great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Vernon is a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and
the 91st Bomb Group (H) Memorial Association.
-------------------------
Vernon Hardin Baird of Del City, passed away March 1, 2015 at the age of 90.
He was born in Brawley, CA to Johnnie Hardin and Opal Marie (Ritchie) Baird.
Vernon spent most of his childhood in Dodson, attending the Kelly School and
graduating from Dodson High School.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June 1943, at the age of 19. Following
training as a B-17 Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner, Vernon was assigned to
the 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group (H), 322 Bomb Squadron stationed at Air Force
Station 121, Blassingbourn, England (known as the "Ragged Irregulars").
From November 1944 to May 1945, he completed 35 missions (the majority on the
"Lewd Angel") and participated in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central European
campaigns. Vernon's awards included the European-African-Middle East Service
Medal with three Bronze Stars and the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters.
He was discharged as a Technical Sergeant in October 1945, then served as a
member of the Oklahoma National Guard, 120th Combat Engineer Company from April
1949 to April 1950.
Following WWII, Vernon worked in Hollis as an auto mechanic, where he met his
future wife, Joy Colleen Kilmer of Jones. In 1955 they moved to Oklahoma City,
where Vernon worked for Chick Coker Pontiac as a service manager.
In 1960 Vernon began a successful career with the U.S. Postal Service. He
retired in 1986, with 30 years of government service.
Vernon then worked for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Association until 2004 as a
Security Guard at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Vernon was a loving husband
and father. He loved fishing and spending time with family and friends and will
be greatly missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joy Colleen (Kilmer) Baird;
three sisters, Verna Mae Underwood, Sara Worley and Johnny Lou Branch; a
great-grandson, Kory Ingle.
He is survived by his three daughters; a son; seven grandchildren; fourteen
great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Vernon is a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and
the 91st Bomb Group (H) Memorial Association.
-------------------------
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