Gary Wayne Baldwin

Gary Wayne Baldwin was born in Peoria, IL on December 13, 1948, to parents Lowell Wayne and Jeanette A. (Jones) Baldwin. Growing up in Bartonville, he attended Oak Grove and graduated from Limestone High School in 1966 before continuing his education at Western Illinois University.

Although classmates throughout their lives, it wasn’t until attending WIU that Gary began dating Cynthia Lou Best, and the two later married on June 25, 1972. In celebration of their 50th anniversary in 2022, Gary and Cynthia toured Canada by train and even walked on a glacier!

Prior to retiring in 2007, Gary spent 34 years as a social studies and civics teacher at Monroe Grade School in Bartonville. Known for his quirky purple wall (that he painted himself to the ire of the administration), Mr. Baldwin will also be remembered for leading his students through a series of interactive simulations such as exploring the Oregon Trail and learning about the honor of indigenous tribes.

Gary coached girls track and volleyball while at Monroe. But his greatest joy was serving as the Scholastic Bowl coach where he guided his teams in back-to-back State Championship wins.

An avid March Madness high school basketball fan, Gary delighted in cheering on the Manual Rams as they soared to four consecutive State Championships. Gary would spend hours and hours every season studying game outcomes, charting wins and losses, and clipping out newspaper headlines that he compiled into elaborate posters. It was not unusual for Manual coaches to call Gary to see what sort of statistics he had gathered on opposing teams.

Always needing to have some sort of project, Gary was an active community member who served as the church secretary at both Zion Lutheran and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, a baseball coach for the Glasford Optimus Club, and a volunteer at many park events where he lived in Fort Myers, FL.

Gary was an enthusiastic bass fisher and loved being at his summer home in the Lake of the Ozarks where he spent time boating and hanging out on the dock drinking his favorite beverage, Jack Daniels and Diet Coke.

Gary passed away on November 6, 2024, in Peoria at the age of 75.

Gary is survived by his wife Cynthia; son Ryan (Donna) Baldwin of Nashville, TN; daughter Miranda (Noah) Baldwin of Chicago, IL; sister Michelle Cummings of Okeechobee, FL; uncle Orvin Baldwin of California; nephew Kevin Best of Colorado; niece Karla Best of Mattoon, IL; as well as great nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Wayne and Jeanette, and his stepmother Ethel.

Visitation services will be held from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, November 10th, at Davison-Fulton Bartonville Chapel.

Funeral services will take place at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Glasford on Monday November 11th at 11am, with a brief visitation at 10am. Graveside services and luncheon will follow on site.

As a member and cousin of the Itoo Society, memorial donations in Gary’s name can be made to their Aytou Relief Fund (https://form.jotform.com/202757504042146)

Online condolences may be shared with Gary's family at www.Davison-Fulton-BartonvilleChapel.com