COL. Dr. John Kent Baldwin

John was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana on December 14, 1940 to John Barton Baldwin and Verba Lee Shows Baldwin of Simpson County, MS. He was raised in Magee, MS.

He attended the University of Mississippi and Loyola Dental School in New Orleans, graduating with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1965. While in New Orleans he met and married his valentine, Barbara Warfield Baldwin. They were married for 51 years.

John joined the United States Army in 1965 and practiced dentistry in Berlin, Germany from 1965 to 1968. After returning to the United States, he enjoyed a private practice in Mendenhall, Mississippi from 1968 until 1973. In 1973, he joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in Alexandria, Louisiana as a staff dentist, caring for America’s veterans, until 1999.

From 1968 to 1999, he simultaneously continued his military career with the Mississippi and Louisiana Army National Guards, retiring as a Colonel.

During his time in Germany, he developed a love of history and international travel with his wife, Barbara. Throughout his career, he served in goodwill missions on behalf of the United States government in many countries including Korea, Honduras, Bolivia, and S.H.A.P.E. Headquarters in Brussells, Belgium.

His mission work culminated with his support of Dental Volunteers of Israel. From 1993 through 2006, he and Barbara traveled to Jerusalem where he provided volunteer dental services to needy children of all faiths at a clinic founded by a Holocaust survivor.

John was a dreamer, an adventurer, a patriot, and a man of deep faith. He had an unusual combination of honesty, determination, and humility and lived life with gusto! He was passionate about helping others and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Barton Baldwin, mother, Verba Lee Shows Baldwin and sister, Tanya Baldwin Sincox.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Warfied Baldwin of Pontotoc, MS; daughter Amber Baldwin D’Amico and husband, Sammy, of Dallas, TX; daughter Dr. Heather Baldwin Duff and husband, Dr. Marlin Duff, of Pontotoc, MS; and his son, John Benjamin Baldwin and wife, Jennifer, of Houston, TX.

He leaves behind four grandchildren: Kellon Duff, Joshua Duff, John Baldwin and Jack Baldwin and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral services and burial will be held at Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Martinville, MS on Sunday, January 10. Visitation will be at 1:00 with services and burial at 2 pm. There will be fellowship immediately following at the church. Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church is located 9 miles North of Magee on Hwy 541.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Methodist Church of Pontotoc, MS, or the Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church of Martinville, MS.