John Baird

John H. Baird Jr., 94, died Monday, July 25, 2016. "Jack" was a lifelong resident of Greensburg, where he was born to John H. Sr. and Emma Haines Baird, on Aug. 12, 1921. He retired from Luger Meat Company where he was sales manager. Jack was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II and served for two and one half years in the Pacific Theater. He was a volunteer fireman and joined Greensburg Hose Company No. 3 in 1939. Jack was the oldest member of the Greensburg VFD. He was also a member of the South Greensburg American Legion Post 981. He coached Little League baseball for Greensburg and Hempfield. Jack and his wife, Emma Fox Baird, who preceded him in death in 2013, were devoted members of the Otterbein United Methodist Church, where they were active in the youth ministry and in preparing community holiday dinners. He held several church offices and taught Sunday school. He was an avid baseball fan and rarely missed viewing a Pirates' game. He will be remembered for his hand drawn "Marmaduke" greeting cards. Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Jesse Patton, and by his sister, Virginia Baird Highberger. He is survived by his daughter, Lynne Baird Smith (Tim), of Latrobe, and by several nieces and nephews of the Fox and Highberger families. Family and friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME, 524 N. Main St., Greensburg. Jack's funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in Otterbein United Methodist Church, 111 College Ave., Greensburg, PA 15601. Everyone please go directly to church. Interment will follow in Westmoreland County Memorial Park, where military rites will be accorded by South Greensburg American Legion Post 981. The members of Greensburg VFD will gather at the funeral home at 7 p.m. Thursday for a memorial service. In lieu of flowers, Jack's family requests memorials to the Otterbein United Methodist Church, at the above address. They extend thanks and appreciation to Karen Grace, Bob Patterson and to the other faithful visitors of his church, to the staff of Nature Park Commons and to the wonderful caretakers of Promise Hospice. For online condolences, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.