William (Bill) Hines Baldwin

   William (Bill) Hines Baldwin, 90, of Big Spring, died on Jan. 3, 2016 in Big Spring. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home in Big Spring under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.
   Baldwin was born on Friday, June 19, 1925 in Medicine Mound to James and Grace (Greening) Baldwin. He served in the United States Army in World War II. He landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day.  He was a combat engineer who disarmed mines. He was also in the Battle of the Bulge. He also met and shook the hand of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower while in service. He was awarded several medals, including a Purple Heart and the Medaille de Jubile (Normandy Commemorative Medal) presented to him several years ago by France. He was active in the Kiwanis Club, joined the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite and became a Shriner. He also owned and operated Bill’s Auto Salvage. He left the wrecking yard in the early 1980s, but he stayed in the auto business selling cars and traveling around the country, including going back to France for the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
   He is survived by two daughters, Paula Baldwin of Monmouth, Ore. and Sara Blair of Louisville, Miss; two sons, Tom Baldwin of Hermleigh and Bill Baldwin, Jr., of Springtown; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews, many of whom reside in Vernon. He was preceded in death by three brothers, James Baldwin, Charlie Baldwin and Clyde Baldwin Jr., and three sisters, Frances Smith, Maxine Winniger and Mary Barnes.