Keith Voy Baldwin Sr., BHS 1948IN TUNE WITH WHAT MATTERED - PLAYING ORGAN, ENJOYING FAMILY WERE BURBANK MAN'S PASSIONS
Daily News of Los Angeles (CA) - Sunday, March 20, 2005
Author: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer
Author: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer
Keith Voy Baldwin Sr., BHS 1948
Playing an organ was the passion of Keith Baldwin Sr., a longtime Burbank resident who died March 13,2005. He was 75.
``He loved the organ but he was shy about performing. We had to twist his arm at our club meetings to play,'' said the Rev. Phil McKinnley, a friend from the Los Angeles Theater Organ Society. ``He was very musical. He was a wonderful guy and we'll really miss him.'' While most other society members perform traditional music, Baldwin took a delight in playing variations of ``Chopsticks'' - everything from jazz to acid rock - when he played for an audience.
``He was a smart, fun-loving guy. He was warm and friendly and always pushing the theater organ society,'' said son Keith Baldwin Jr. ``His passion was playing the organ but he enjoyed his kids and his granddaughter.'' A perfect day for Baldwin would have been driving to a dozen or so venues to listen to or play theater organs on the society's ``Wurlitzer Weekends,'' his son said.
Keith Voy Baldwin was born Jan. 21, 1930, in Marion, Ohio. He graduated in 1948 from Burbank High School and enlisted in the Air Force. He worked as a military air traffic controller and retired with the rank of major in 1971. Following his retirement Baldwin worked with his parents at Thirst Quencher Liquor in Burbank. The store was sold in 1977 after his father's death.
Baldwin is survived by his children, Keith Voy Baldwin Jr., Krista Vyanne Bowman and Kirby Villiers Baldwin ; and a granddaughter. A funeral service was held Thursday at Valley Funeral Home in Burbank. Baldwin was cremated and his ashes will be scattered.
Donations in his memory may be made to Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, 2219 Bath St., Santa Barbara CA 93105.
Keith Baldwin attended OCS at Lackland AFB with my parents in 1953 and he played the organ at their wedding in the chapel there in early 1954. He was a dear friend of theirs for many years. He and my father were in Vietnam together and he sent an audio tape to my mother at the time of the Tet Offensive in January 1968. I would like to send a copy of this audio tape to his children if they are interested.
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