Denis Blaine Baum

THE REV. DENIS BLAINE BAUM (Ret USAF Col), 81, of North Little Rock, passed away April 2, 2018, from pancreatic cancer. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, to James Edward and Freda Perrin Baum on March 5, 1937. He grew up in Millbury, Ohio, attended Bowling Green State University for his undergraduate work in English Literature, and received his Bachelor of Divinity after three years at Oberlin College's Graduate School of Theology in Oberlin, Ohio, and one year at The Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. He served as a Curate at St. James Episcopal Church in Painesville, Ohio, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force as a Chaplain. In his first assignment at Patrick AFB, Fla., one of his duties was to pray with the astronauts before their flight. As a Reservist, Denis took training at St. Elizabeth's Mental Hospital in Washington, D.C., and went on to spend seven more years there mentoring other ministers in Religion and Mental Health. While in D.C., he earned a master's in religion and Medicine at George Washington University. Returning to active duty with the Air Force in 1975, he served as a Chaplain at Little Rock AFB, Ark., Sembach AFB, Germany, and Maxwell AFB, Ala. Upon his retirement from the reserves, Denis returned to the Priesthood to serve as Rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Greenville, Ala., and Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Gulf Shores, Ala. Upon his second retirement from the private sector, Denis served many churches as Interim Priest, including three separate stints as visiting Priest at All Saints in Blackwell, England. He also served at St. James in Niceville, Fla., St. Andrews in Panama City, Fla., St. Albans in Stuttgart, Ark., Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock, and St. Luke's Episcopal Church in North Little Rock. It was here in North Little Rock that Denis and Judith bought and renovated their home to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He leaves behind his wife, Judith Holloway Baum; daughter, Beth Murry and husband David; sons, D. Blaine Baum and wife, Joanne and Matthew Baum; grandchildren, DJ Maxwell, Blake Murry, James Thomas Baum, Ava and Dylan Baum; and step-grandchildren, Alexandria Rogers, Joseph and Troy Fleming. In addition, he is survived by his siblings, James Baum and wife, Lois, Janice Ford and husband, Kenneth, Bob Baum and wife, Maryanne and Freda Baum and husband Tom Lagos. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one nephew, Kenneth Ford. Special thanks for the fabulous care Denis received at UAMS ICU, and to his devoted caretaker, JoAnn Hurst. A visitation will be at 2 p.m., Friday, April 6, 2018, followed by a memorial service at 3 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock. Arrangements by Smith – North Little Rock Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.