Beverly Page Baldwin

Beverly Page Baldwin, “Bev,” ascended to heaven on Saturday, June 4th, 2016. She was preceded by her husband, William Marshall Baldwin, “Bill,” her father, Clayton Alexander Page, and her mother, Golda Viola Beaty. She is survived by her two sons, Page (Jane) and Brooks (Melissa); and grandchildren Anelise, Camdyn, Marshall, Martin, and Marion. She passed away peacefully in her home, succumbing to advanced vascular dementia. Bev was born Beverly Adelyn Page on November 17th, 1930 in the town of Black River, Missouri. She married the love of her life, Bill, on Christmas Day in 1951. He shipped off to Korea not long afterward. She kept the home fires burning while he was away, and sent special packages of home-made fudge to him in Korea every month. Their marriage would go on to last for 62 years. While Bill was at war and then in Engineering School, she worked for organizations ranging from Hallmark to the US Air Force. When Bill completed his Bachelor of Science in Engineering, they moved to Gainesville, Florida. There she attended the University of Florida, graduating cum laud with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1961. She was an exemplary student with a strong personality. She was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the premier honor society recognizing business excellence, and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. In 1964, she and Bill moved to Tallahassee, where she worked for the Midyette-Moore Insurance Agency. In 1972, Bill opened his own Consulting Engineering firm, which Bev managed until she retired in 2003. She was an extraordinary woman, not only managing the family business, but was also a super-wife and mother. She was a long-time board member of the Capital Area Gator Club. Their motto, “civilization among the savages” perfectly summed up her attitude on the relationship between her beloved Gators and the local, rival team. From 1974 to 2011, she and Bill attended almost every Gator Football game, home and away. They also held season tickets for Basketball and enjoyed many other Gator sports. She and Bill were active in Springtime Tallahassee, Spanish Krewe, and held the posts of Andrew and Rachael Jackson in 1990. A lifelong Methodist, Bev attended Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, where they were members of the Ed Wynn Sunday School class. She wrangled the kids while Bill was a greeter and usher. She was a loving wife, mother, and doting grandmother. She would do anything for her grandchildren, and was actively involved in their lives until her passing. She was tough as nails and a fierce protector of her family. She always had an informed, strong opinion on important subjects, and loved to banter about South East Conference sports. When Steve Spurrier, the Ole Ball Coach, famously said that “God was smiling on the Gators,” he must have been thinking of Bev. A special thanks to the helpers that helped kept her comfortable while she was home bound in her final few years. Even towards the end, she continued to enjoy visits from the kids and grand kids, old TV shows, dogs and cats in her lap, and napping in her favorite chair. She was greatly loved and loved greatly. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 10th at Saint Paul’s United Methodist (corner of Meridian and Tharpe) in the main sanctuary, followed by a reception in Sanders Hall. The family appreciates flowers, or, in lieu of, a donation to Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church. Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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Beverly Page Baldwin

November 17, 1930 - June 4, 2016