Captain Charles Raoul Baron

Published 10:31 am Thursday, September 3, 2015

Captain Charles (Chuck) Raoul Baron, 87, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at his home in Katy, TX. Born January 31, 1928, he was the son of the late Raoul O. and Helen E.C. Baron of Albany, New York.

Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945 at the age of 17. He married Violet M. Kaestner in 1949 and spent the next 30 years raising a family while serving his country abroad the USS Finback (SS 230), USS Stickleback (SS 415), USS Halibut (SSGN 587), USS Theodore Roosevelt (SSBN 600) and was Commander aboard the USS Grayling (SSN 646).

After retirement in 1975, Chuck and Vi made their home in central Virginia. He spent his time restoring old houses, designing and building a house and shop, making furniture and wooden arts and crafts and selling them at Craft Fairs. He actively volunteered his time with the Boy Scouts, as a Regional Director with the American Red Cross, participating in or starting several Farmville food banks and cooking dinners monthly for less fortunate senior citizens. In 1992, Chuck lost Vi, his beloved wife of 43 years.

In 2008, he moved to Amherst to be close to his granddaughter, Katherine. In 2010, his son, Eric moved from a neighboring county to help take care of him. In spite of limited mobility, he took up new hobbies and continued to travel with his sister, Julie. 2014 found him on the road again, this time to Katy, Texas to be with his son, Keith. He was frequently seen motoring down the sidewalk to various department and food stores or looking for volunteer opportunities at the local Jr. and Sr. High Schools. He donated many school supplies to the local schools and coats, blankets and clothes to help the homeless.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Violet Marie Kaestner Baron,  his second wife, Catherine P. Sims Baron, and sister, Ezelda Baron Leach.

He is survived by two sons, CDR Eric (USNR Ret.) and wife, Marsha Baron of Amherst; LtCol Keith (USAF Ret.) and wife, Debra A. Baron of Katy, TX. He is also survived by a sister, Julie A. Monroe of Oneida, NY;  a brother, COL Frederick C. Baron (USAR Ret.) of Setauket, NY; and four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Chuck was a person once met, was never forgotten. He will be sorely missed by all who he came in contact with.

A memorial service for Chuck will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 12, at River Bend Baptist Church, Fulshear, TX, with Pastor John Crowe officiating.

Donations may be made to River Bend Baptist Church, PO Box 945, Fulshear, Texas 77441.

Funeral services held under the direction of Schmidt Funeral Home, Katy, Texas.