Our angel, Nettie M. (Townsend) Baldwin, age 82 of Elwood went to Heaven peacefully in her sleep on Monday, October 5, 2015 at the home of her son in Kempton. She was born April 7, 1933 in Athens, Ohio, the daughter of Robert L. and Genevieve L. (Dowler) Townsend. She was a 1951 graduate of Wendell L. Willkie High School and married the love of her life Francis I. "Frank" Baldwin on July, 27 1951. Nettie was a homemaker all of her life and devoted to taking care of her family. She formerly drove and delivered cars for the Heiser Ford and Kutche Auto Dealerships in Elwood and also worked for several years as the head cook at the Elwood Jr. High and Middle Schools. She was a devoted member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Elwood and enjoyed reading her Bible. She loved taking trips to Tennessee with her family in recent years and formerly enjoyed extended vacations to Montana and Canada to visit family members. Nettie was known for being an excellent cook and collected many kinds of frog figurines. She enjoyed working Sudoku puzzles, playing Solitaire on her computer, attending the TOPS fitness group, and playing all types of card games with her family. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, crocheting, sewing, and crafts. Nettie always had a smile on her face, and never met a stranger. Above all else, she loved spending time with her family and will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

Nettie's family includes 9 children, Larry (Loretta) Baldwin of Elwood, David (Anna) Baldwin of Elwood, Carol (Brad) Hanson of Alberta, Canada, Dale (Brenda) Baldwin of Waterloo, Cathy (Bill Tennyson) McCurdy of Colorado, Nola Partlow of Alexandria, Pam (George Bixby) Baldwin of Elwood, Barbara (Bob) DeHart of Elwood, Eric (Connie) Baldwin of Kempton; 3 sisters, Shirley (Caldon) Murphy of North Vernon, Adrienne (Bob) Tishner of Tipton, and Julie (Gary) Miller of Alexandria; 2 brothers, Ted (Shirley) Townsend of Cicero and George (Fran) Townsend of Middleton, TN; 16 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Judy Townsend and Sue Townsend both of Elwood; many nieces and nephews; and beloved dog, Jazzy.

Nettie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of more than 58 years, Francis I. Baldwin who died in 2009; and 3 brothers, Robert G. Townsend, Donald E. Townsend, and Joe A. Townsend.

A funeral service celebrating Nettie's life will be conducted at 11AM on Monday, October 12, 2015 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Pastor Rodney Ellis of the First Missionary Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 to 7 PM on Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Morrisett Center Food Pantry through the funeral home. Online condolences may be made to the Baldwin family at: www.copherfeslermay.com.