SOUTH THOMASTON — Joseph T. “Bud” Baum, Jr., died Sunday, April 12, 2020 at the Sussman House in Rockport.

Born in Owls Head, February 16, 1928, he was the son of Joseph T. and Flora M. Jackson Baum. Bud was educated in South Thomaston schools and graduated from Rockland High School in 1946.

He then joined the U.S. army and served in Germany from February of 1946 to July 1947. During the World War II years, he was a member of Clines Hell Cats, a local militia caring for the safety Knox County residents.

Bud was a 70-year member of the Masons, a member of Winslow-Holbrook-Merritt American Legion Post No. 1, a member of the South Thomaston Lions Club, Wessaweskeag Grange, Wessaweskeag Historical Society, and the Peoples United Methodist Church.

January 2, 1949, Bud married the love of his life, Verna S. Waldron, in Rockland. The couple made their first home in Spruce Head for a brief time before moving to South Thomaston, where they lived in an apartment over the Keag store. Bud and Verna operated that store from 1951 to 1960. During that same time Bud began farming, raising beans for Black & Gay Canning company in Thomaston.

Bud expanded his farming operation to include dairy and for some time he operated a milk route. He worked for a burial vault business for a year then bought and moved the company in 1967 to South Thomaston. He named it Baum Concrete Products. With his wife, and son, he operated that business until 1986. Always active in the community, Bud was a past Town of South Thomaston Fire Chief for twelve years and for nine years served as a selectman.

In earlier years he enjoyed hunting downeast. He was an excellent pool player and enjoyed working in the woods. He loved dogs, most recently, Cooper and Baxter. His wife once said of Bud, “He’ll do anything but housework.”

After their retirement, Bud and Verna, enjoyed traveling anywhere and everywhere, including visiting all U.S. states.

They also took four trips to Alaska, the Canadian providences, and the Northwest Territory. They spent 13 winters at their camp on Duck Lake and another six winters in Juniper, New Brunswick, snowmobiling as much as they could. They wintered many years together on the Rio Grande River in Mission, Texas. Bud was pleased to celebrate his 90th birthday in Mission surrounded by over 80 friends and family members.

Bud was predeceased by his wife, Verna, in 2014, and three sisters and their husband’s, Alice J. and William Robinson, Dorothy and Grover Roberson, Joan and Benjamin Smith.

He is survived by three children, Brenda Baum Calderwood, Marcia Baum Whitten, Joseph T. Baum, III and his wife Lynda; eight grandchildren and spouses, Robert, Jr. and Michelle Calderwood, Stephen and LeaAnn Calderwood, Timothy and Heather Calderwood, Bryan and Tammy Calderwood, Lisa Whitten Brooks, Michael and Jennie Whitten, Keely and Travis Widecombe, Joseph ‘Tucker’, IV and Jessica Baum; 12 great-grandchildren Trey III and Evan Calderwood, Mickey and Bryce Calderwood, Connor and Nathaniel Calderwood, Ava and Lyla Brooks, Silas and Allie Widdecombe, Isla Calderwood, and Joseph T. ‘Quinn’ Baum, V; nieces and nephews including Dale Roberson and partner Diane, Bonnie and Donald Riddle, Pamela and Thomas Boland, Glen Smith, Arnold Kinney, Sumner and Marjorie Kinney, Fred Stimpson, Richard Waldron, and Karen Thompson; as well as extended family members and countless friends.

Due to the present COVID-19 crisis, a private graveside service is planned at this time.

Donations can be made to Peoples United Methodist Church, PO Box 83, South Thomaston, Maine 04858.

To share a memory or story with Bud’s family, please visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. Arrangements at in the care of Burpee, Carpenter, & Hutchins funeral Home, Rockland.