Obituary
Lew Everett Baldwin, 67, of Astatulla passed away on June 24, 2017 at Health Central Park.
Lew was born April 30, 1950, in Anderson, Indiana, to Louis and Alene Baldwin.
Lew grew up in Livingston, Tennessee and graduated from Livingston Academy in 1968. He moved to Anderson, Indiana and resided there until 1982.
Lew moved to Orlando, Florida in 1982. He was employed by Orange County Public Schools maintenance department as a refrigeration technician.
Lew bought a computer and with the help of a couple of “For Dummy” books, he was able to teach himself all about computers. He taught himself so well that he was asked to help set up and create a program for the maintenance dept. by Orange County Schools for SAP. He loved the challenge. Once the program was completed, he was asked to teach a class on how to use the computer program. He was so very proud of this accomplishment. He retired from there in 2001.
Lew moved to Anderson, Indiana and lived there for two years. He was employed by Wendy’s in the service department and serviced Wendy’s restaurants in and around Anderson, Indiana.
He returned to Astatula, Florida in 2003 and went back to work with OCPS in the maintenance department, as a master refrigeration tech.
Lew retired Jan. 1, 2012. He lived at home until an accidental fall in 2015. From then he resided at Health Central Park Nursing Facility until his passing.
Lew had a passion for cars. He raced stock cars at Anderson Speedway briefly in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. He also built some of his race cars along with his owner, sponsor and friend James Cyphers. He loved racing more than anything. It was in his blood. His love of cars never left him. Through his life until his illness, he collected small replicas of old race cars, NASCARS, hot rods, etc.
Lew is survived by his longtime partner, Judith K. Baldwin: daughter, Melanie Baldwin Beach; sisters, Linda Sullivan, Brenda Branum, Vicki Foley and Betty Garrett; brother, Michael Roy Sullivan. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and Stepsons, Ronald Kerestus, Mark Kerestus and Paul Kerestus.
Lew was preceded in death by: mother: Alene Watson Sullivan and stepfather: Charles Sullivan and his grandson, Markie Kerestus.
Melanie and her Dad
Lew was such a special man. He was thoughtful, caring and would give you the shirt off his back (if it would fit you ). He prided himself in going above and beyond his work duties or anything he would do. If he ever wanted to be remembered for anything he did in his life (besides his daughter), it was this. He was a bit of a perfectionist, to say the least.
He would tell me, If someone told him he couldn’t do this or that, he’d say “just watch me”, and he would surely do exactly that.
I, myself, came to believe there was nothing he couldn’t do, within reason. He went into every hobby, full speed ahead. Focused on just that hobby and when he got tired of it, or something else came along that interested him, he would quit that hobby and go to the next with the same focus and interest as the previous one. That was my Lew! He was always willing to help anyone and which he did and for so many! He hardly ever got truly angry. He was my gentle Teddy Bear. A big man with the biggest heart! I’ll love and cherish him till the end of my days!!
I have nothing but heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the Nurses, CNA’s, Physical Therapists, Recreational Therapists and staff at Health Central Park Nursing Facility. Especially “Our Circle of Friends”, and family. Lew received the best loving care from all his caregivers while residing in the 200 unit, as well as a brief stay in the 300 unit at HCP. Thank you again, so much, for all the loving care you all gave my Lew.
Judith Baldwin