Rebecca Baldwin

CHARTER OAK, Mo. -- Rebecca Sue Baldwin, 75, of Charter Oak, rural Catron, Mo., passed away Sunday, April 28, 2013, at her home surrounded by loved ones.

She was born March 27, 1938, in Center Ridge, Ark., to William Avery and Martha Elizabeth Ethridge Stobaugh. She was the oldest of four children, and from a very early age she and her sisters helped their parents work the farm and harvest a huge garden.

She and Billy Arnold Baldwin Sr. were married June 26, 1954, in Hernando, Miss. With the exception of the years Rebecca was enrolled in college in Arkansas, the couple made their home in the Charter Oak area.

Survivors include her husband Bill of Charter Oak; three children, Tamara Kay (Henry Sessoms Sr.) of Cape Girardeau, Bill Baldwin Jr. of Charter Oak and Chris (Dana) Baldwin of Hillsboro, Mo.; five grandchildren, Blake Kendrick, Brandon Kendrick, Megan Baldwin, Haley Baldwin and Clay Baldwin; two stepgrandchildren, Deidre Sessoms (David DeNuzzo) and Hank (Shannon) Sessoms; three great-stepgrandchildren, Trey Sessoms, Alex Sessoms DeNuzzo and Jace Sessoms DeNuzzo.

She also is survived by her father, William Avery Stobaugh of Dexter, Mo.; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Glenda and Gerald Barber of Dexter, Margaret and Walton Weaver of Beaumont, Texas, and Kathy Jones of rural Bloomfield, Mo.; two half sisters, Jeannine McCoy of Lubbock, Texas, and Jan (Allen) Powell of St. Clair, Mo.; four sisters-in-law, Patricia Baldwin of Essex, Mo., Pauline Baldwin of Cuba, Mo., Cassandra Breece of Jackson and Irene Baldwin of Benton, Mo.; three brothers-in-law, Harry Swinger of Dexter, Randall Breece of Jackson and Rick Baldwin of Sturdivant, Mo.; two aunts and uncles, Wanda and Luther Bryant of Birdtown, Ark., and Peggy and Charles Holifield of Columbus, Miss.; 30 nieces and nephews; a host of great-nieces and great-nephews; and other relatives and friends. She also is survived by her beloved dogs, Bitty and Buddy of the home.

She was preceded in death by her mother; an infant brother, William Charles; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bertie and Arzie Baldwin; three sisters-in-law, Hazel Tharp Baldwin, Pauline "Polly" Pannebecker and Mary "Sis" Swinger; seven brothers-in-law, Dick Baldwin, Harold Baldwin, Arzie "Junior" Baldwin, Roy Pannebecker, Larry Jones, Rawleigh Baldwin and Ron Baldwin; a nephew, Rex Pettit; and a niece, Sara Jones Leija.

Rebecca graduated from Gray Ridge High School in Gray Ridge, Mo., in 1955, and from Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway in 1959.

She was a teacher 32 years and taught special education in the Bloomfield School District and elementary school in the Gray Ridge, Richland and East Prairie school districts during her career. After retiring from teaching in 1991, she worked as a long-term substitute teacher at the New Dawn School in Sikeston, Mo., for many years.

Rebecca was a member of Missouri State Teachers Association and Matthews Church of Christ in Matthews, Mo.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Jimmy Colvert, minister of Matthews Church of Christ, and Walton Weaver, minister of Major Drive Church of Christ in Beaumont, will officiate. Interment will be in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery near Bloomfield.

Pallbearers will include sons Bill Jr. and Chris Baldwin, grandsons Blake and Brandon Kendrick and nephews Wes Carr and Kyle Jones.

Memorials may be made to Larry B. Jones HOPE Campaign (Celebrating Healing, Optimism, Prayer, and Example), 23875 State Highway BB, Bloomfield, MO 63825, which assists families who are dealing with cancer.