Ray E. Baird, 57, a Fresno business and civic leader, died late yesterday on Shaver Lake while he was serving as a volunteer deputy with the sheriff's powerboat squadron. He lived at 330 East Terrace Avenue.
His body was found by his widow, Vinnie, in his boat, which was drifting on the east side of the lake. She enlisted the aid of another boater to look for Baird when he did not return on time.
Members of his family said death apparently was caused by a heart attack but they said he did not have a history of heart trouble.
Baird and his wife had been staying at the lake this summer and he spent part of his time helping to patrol the lake with other members of the sheriff's powerboat unit. He was a charter member of the organization.
Baird had operated the Richfield Garage at Van Ness Avenue and Kern Street since 1937. He previously had operated the Valley Armored Car Service, and several other enterprises including a variety store, drug store and liquor store.
A native of Fowler, Baird had lived in Fresno nearly his entire life.
He was a member of the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, the Tehran Shrine Temple, the Scottish and York Rite bodies Sanger Shrine Club, High Twelve Club and was the first president of the Tehran Temple's Greeters.
Baird also was affiliated with the Fresno Elks Lodge, Fort Washington Country CLub and Navy League.
Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, R.R. (Bud) and John; his mother, Mrs. Ethel Baird; a sister, Mrs. Velma Esheim, and two grandchildren, all of Fresno.
The Lisle Funeral Home will be in charge of funeral arrangements. Interment Belmont Memorial Park. Published in the Fresno Bee.
His body was found by his widow, Vinnie, in his boat, which was drifting on the east side of the lake. She enlisted the aid of another boater to look for Baird when he did not return on time.
Members of his family said death apparently was caused by a heart attack but they said he did not have a history of heart trouble.
Baird and his wife had been staying at the lake this summer and he spent part of his time helping to patrol the lake with other members of the sheriff's powerboat unit. He was a charter member of the organization.
Baird had operated the Richfield Garage at Van Ness Avenue and Kern Street since 1937. He previously had operated the Valley Armored Car Service, and several other enterprises including a variety store, drug store and liquor store.
A native of Fowler, Baird had lived in Fresno nearly his entire life.
He was a member of the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, the Tehran Shrine Temple, the Scottish and York Rite bodies Sanger Shrine Club, High Twelve Club and was the first president of the Tehran Temple's Greeters.
Baird also was affiliated with the Fresno Elks Lodge, Fort Washington Country CLub and Navy League.
Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, R.R. (Bud) and John; his mother, Mrs. Ethel Baird; a sister, Mrs. Velma Esheim, and two grandchildren, all of Fresno.
The Lisle Funeral Home will be in charge of funeral arrangements. Interment Belmont Memorial Park. Published in the Fresno Bee.
Ray E. Baird, 57, a Fresno business and civic leader, died late yesterday on Shaver Lake while he was serving as a volunteer deputy with the sheriff's powerboat squadron. He lived at 330 East Terrace Avenue.
His body was found by his widow, Vinnie, in his boat, which was drifting on the east side of the lake. She enlisted the aid of another boater to look for Baird when he did not return on time.
Members of his family said death apparently was caused by a heart attack but they said he did not have a history of heart trouble.
Baird and his wife had been staying at the lake this summer and he spent part of his time helping to patrol the lake with other members of the sheriff's powerboat unit. He was a charter member of the organization.
Baird had operated the Richfield Garage at Van Ness Avenue and Kern Street since 1937. He previously had operated the Valley Armored Car Service, and several other enterprises including a variety store, drug store and liquor store.
A native of Fowler, Baird had lived in Fresno nearly his entire life.
He was a member of the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, the Tehran Shrine Temple, the Scottish and York Rite bodies Sanger Shrine Club, High Twelve Club and was the first president of the Tehran Temple's Greeters.
Baird also was affiliated with the Fresno Elks Lodge, Fort Washington Country CLub and Navy League.
Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, R.R. (Bud) and John; his mother, Mrs. Ethel Baird; a sister, Mrs. Velma Esheim, and two grandchildren, all of Fresno.
The Lisle Funeral Home will be in charge of funeral arrangements. Interment Belmont Memorial Park. Published in the Fresno Bee.
His body was found by his widow, Vinnie, in his boat, which was drifting on the east side of the lake. She enlisted the aid of another boater to look for Baird when he did not return on time.
Members of his family said death apparently was caused by a heart attack but they said he did not have a history of heart trouble.
Baird and his wife had been staying at the lake this summer and he spent part of his time helping to patrol the lake with other members of the sheriff's powerboat unit. He was a charter member of the organization.
Baird had operated the Richfield Garage at Van Ness Avenue and Kern Street since 1937. He previously had operated the Valley Armored Car Service, and several other enterprises including a variety store, drug store and liquor store.
A native of Fowler, Baird had lived in Fresno nearly his entire life.
He was a member of the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, the Tehran Shrine Temple, the Scottish and York Rite bodies Sanger Shrine Club, High Twelve Club and was the first president of the Tehran Temple's Greeters.
Baird also was affiliated with the Fresno Elks Lodge, Fort Washington Country CLub and Navy League.
Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, R.R. (Bud) and John; his mother, Mrs. Ethel Baird; a sister, Mrs. Velma Esheim, and two grandchildren, all of Fresno.
The Lisle Funeral Home will be in charge of funeral arrangements. Interment Belmont Memorial Park. Published in the Fresno Bee.
Family Members
Siblings
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
