Paul Edwin was born September 20, 1935 to Sidney and Dora (Wareham) Baldwin in Watford, Hertfordwhire, England. He was fortunate enough to be younger brother of John S. (1933). The boys grew up, played and were educated in Watford.
At the age of eighteen, Paul joined the British Army and served in Ireland for four years. In 1955 Paul married Elizabeth H. Atkinson. Paul had returned from Ireland and taken a job with a bank. Dissatisfied with his job, Paul and his family moved to Ireland where Paul worked as a journalist. He loved writing and searched for wider horizons. The Toronto Star promised Paul a job and the family moved once again, this time to Canada. All three boys were born by this time, Adrian, Mark and Philip.
Once in Canada in 1974, Paul realized the Star was downsizing staff and a job was not in his future. Unemployed and trying to support a family as an immigrant, Paul took a job at Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre. He must of excelled at his work as he retired from Corrections in 1998 as a Lieutenant.
In 1989 Paul and Elizabeth went their separate ways. Having met Donna Jones (nee Pitcher) in jail, well at least that is the joke, as she too worked at the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre, as a corrections officer. They were married April 16, 1991 in Las Vegas with Donna’s two sons, Steve and Mike giving her away!
Having always enjoyed the beauty and opportunities of the Bruce Peninsula, Donna and Paul purchased a 2½ acre parcel of land at Miller Lake, between Wiarton and Tobermory. This property was used for clearing and simple enjoyment. In 1997 the two moved to Paisley before their final move to Chesley in 1999.
Paul had many abilities and interests. Even though he wouldn’t say, and didn’t push his ideas on anyone, Paul was a great financier, a financial wizard actually. He was an avid reader, especially of newspapers and would read the Globe and Mail every day. This activity included the crosswords, but not sudoku! Paul also enjoyed reading history, autobiographies, and anything on management. He was quite the collector as well, anything Royal was of interest to him as well as stamps. Paul was also a strong conservative with a Capital C. If you think Paul led a sedentary life you would be mistaken. Donna and Paul have travelled all across Europe on the trains, visited Britain to see family six times, had been to Cuba twice, Mexico and Honduras. Up until this year, Paul and Donna travelled down to Daytona Beach Shores every fall for five weeks. Paul truly enjoyed life!
When Paul did sit down to watch TV, he really enjoyed shows like NCIS, Murdock Mysteries, Dateline, 24 Hours. He was a teetotaler, never consuming alcohol, and never turning food of any kind away. In fact, he had a great appetite! Nor did Paul swear or smoke. Paul was not one for pets, but they did have birds – Frick and Frack as well as Silly and Sally.
Words used to best describe Paul would have to be integrity, honourable, positive with a dry wit. He was a true gentleman who also enjoyed theme parties and having company. Paul was not one to invite people over yet at the same time loved it when they had company. Donna and Paul’s home in Chesley was large enough to act as a Bed and Breakfast thus allowing for guests to stay over quite comfortably.
Paul was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2000. He was in remission for five years and then it came back with a vengeance. Sadly, Paul passed away quite suddenly at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Chesley on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 in his 84th year.
Beloved husband and best friend of Donna. Loving father of Adrian, Mark, Philip, Josephine, Steve, Mike and their families. Brother of John (Brenda) of England.
An informal visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley on Monday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A funeral service celebrating Paul’s life will be held at St. John’s United Church, Chesley on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 1 p.m. Interment in Chesley Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
