William E. Baer
William E. Baer, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, died peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2013. He was 85.
He was born on June 26, 1927 in Mansfield, Ohio, to Mary Baer and Richard A. Baer, and spent most of his childhood in Syracuse, New York. He graduated in 1945 from Nottingham High School and in 1950 from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He began his career as a C.P.A. with Price Waterhouse and subsequently became Vice President of Insilco Corporation in Connecticut, retiring in 1990. While in Connecticut, he served on the Boards of Gaylord Hospital, Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, and other organizations.
Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Geraldine Baer of Crozet; his children, Bill Baer Jr. and his wife, Jane, of White Hall; Eric Baer and his wife, Jackie, of John's Island, South Carolina; and grandchildren Mary Beth Baer Lofton and her husband James, Allison Baer, Dan Baer, Ava Quesada, Sarah Baer, Hank Baer, Billy Baer, and Matthew Baer. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Thorson and her husband Walter; his brother, Dr. Richard Baer and his wife Carol; and several nieces and nephews and their children.
He was a lifelong Christian, and a faithful parishioner of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Cheshire, Connecticut and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Ivy, where he and Gerry sang in the choir.
Bill read widely, and enjoyed travel, good conversation and wordplay. But he was often happiest outdoors -- hiking, camping, canoeing, skiing, or working in the woods. He took great joy in God's creation and fostered this same joy in his children and grandchildren. A special pleasure was gardening, both for food and the beauty of the landscape. He was the best father and Grandpa a kid could have. His patience was extraordinary, his energy unflagging, and his character exemplary. Especially after retirement, he spent hours playing Candyland, reading fairy tales (the Grimmer the better), and attending sporting events he would otherwise have missed, just to spend time with and support his grandchildren. Visiting Buppa was always considered a special treat.
He was very private, kind, and gentle, and thought and listened much more than he spoke. But he also found great joy and humor in life, always peering around and beyond obvious logic and circumstances. When asked by his sons for advice, he was maddeningly adept in applying platitudes, wielding "Look before you leap," but tempering it with "He who hesitates is lost," and reminding you that "Nothing risked nothing gained," while simultaneously pronouncing a bird in the hand to be worth two in the bush. He would never look a gift horse in the mouth, but was emphatic that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Confronted with this advice, we were made to search our consciences and think for ourselves, as was of course his purpose.
His final years, during which he suffered from dementia, were very hard. But he understood what was happening and bore it with humor and grace. All of us love and miss him so.
The family would like to extend our thanks to the Hospice of the Piedmont for their wonderful care and support. We are also very grateful to the staff of The Lodge at Old Trail, especially the staff in the Memory Care unit, for their loving care and many kindnesses both before and during Bill's final illness.
A funeral service followed by a reception in the parish hall will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Ivy, Virginia at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2013.
Anyone wishing to make a donation in Bill's memory is asked to give to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Ivy or to the Hospice of the Piedmont.

Anderson Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.