Roger Allan Baldwin died Monday, July 7, 2025. Roger was born June 2, 1931, in Decatur Illinois to Carl and Christine Baldwin. Roger attended Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where he met the love of his life, Evalyn. They married on September 11, 1954, while attending Michigan State University. After completing a Ph. D. in organic chemistry in 1959, Roger and Evalyn moved to Whittier, California for Roger's job with American Potash and Chemical Company.
Their daughters, Cheryl and Lynne were both born in Whittier. The family relocated to Warr Acres, Oklahoma in March 1970 when American Potash was acquired by Kerr McGee Corporation. After retirement, Roger began a second career as a chemistry professor, teaching organic chemistry courses at both UCO and OU. Evalyn and Roger enjoyed trips that took them from Germany to Scotland to Alaska and all over the continental US. Roger was active in the Oklahoma City Stamp Club for many years and was a 70-year member of the American Chemical Society. In 2018, Evalyn and Roger moved to the Touchmark retirement community in Edmond, Oklahoma and continued enjoying life together until Evalyn's death in 2021. Roger was also preceded in death by his sister Jessie Harris, her husband, Harold, and their son Philip; and his brother, Don Baldwin and his wife, Betty. Roger is survived by daughter Cheryl Baldwin Frech and husband Roger Frech; daughter Lynne Baldwin Matzell and husband Tim Matzell; granddaughters Alison Frech (Erik Gause) and Emily Preciado (Sergio); grandsons Jansen and Ian West Matzell; niece Leslie Baldwin (Ken Eng); and numerous other friends and relatives.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00pm, Friday, July 18th at Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, Oklahoma.
To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on 'Videos', then 'Live Streams'.
Many thanks to the staff at Touchmark for their kindness and care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Rogers's name to the National Park Foundation (http://give.nationalparks.org/goto/Roger_Baldwin) or to the Oklahoma Section of the American Chemical Society in care of Jason Wickham, NWOSU, 709 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, OK 73717.