Obituary of Orpha A. Baldwin-Nelson
Age 95, of Clio, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2022. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Mt. Morris. Reverend Larry Nelson to officiate, with burial to follow at Mt. Morris Cemetery. Orpha’s family will be present to receive friends from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, on Monday, March 28, 2022, at Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services in Mt. Morris. On Tuesday morning, Orpha will be taken to church to lie in state from 10:00 am, until the time of service at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions may be made payable to the First Baptist Church of Mt. Morris. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Orpha’s tribute page at martinfuneralhome.com.
Orpha was born on June 14, 1926, in Mt. Morris, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan and Dora Shanks. Orpha attended Mt. Morris Schools and graduated in June of 1944. She married Charles Baldwin on October 19, 1946. Together they had four children. Sadly, Charles preceded her in death on July 22, 1980. Over the years, Orpha has worked at the Genesee County Court House, in Flint, and as a cook for the Mt. Morris Schools all of her life. Orpha attended the First Baptist Church in Mt. Morris all of her life. She was very active in the church choir, teaching Sunday School, Bible School, bowled on the church bowling league, and many other church activities. She loved to sing and play the piano. Orpha also was a member of the Flint Poetry Forum for many years. She loved to oil paint and painted many beautiful pictures. She was an avid reader. Orpha loved watching her Detroit Tigers play baseball. Over the years, she traveled to many places in the United States and other countries. On March 21, 2009, Orpha married Ronald Nelson. Orpha was a wonderful Christian wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who loved her family. She will be sadly missed by all. Orpha’s family would like to thank the staff at Wellspring Lutheran Home in Frankenmuth for the love and care they have shown their mother.
Left to cherish Orpha’s memory are her husband, Ronald; four children: Linda and husband, Jim Abram, Tom and wife, Carol Baldwin, Lana and husband, Jerry Cherwinski, and Dan and wife, Tammie Baldwin; 10 grandchildren: Amy, Jeremy, Tim, Todd, Lindsey, Kirk, Todd, Mark, Erica, and Dave; great-grandchildren: Monroe, Selah, Xavier, Hudson, Sawyer, Layne, Alex, Ayden, Quinn, Sadie, and Max; sister, Jeanette; brother, Paul; step-children: Larry, Diane, and Carol; many nieces and nephews.
Orpha was preceded in death by her parents, Bryan and Dora; husband Charles; one sister Doris; three brothers, John, James, and Bryan.