Doris Baldridge Obituary

Doris Marie (Tucker) Baldridge

Doris Marie (Tucker) Baldridge, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home, in the early morning hours of Friday, August 8, 2025, at the age of 89.

Doris was born in Embreeville, Tennessee, to Clarence and Elsie (Robinette) Tucker March 21, 1936. She was one of eight children in a loving family, and she grew up in Carey, Ohio. The names of all the children were Ted, Lucille, Charles, Carl, Charlotte, Doris, Margie and Carol.

Doris was always an avid reader and as a child, she loved to visit Dorcas Library in Carey as often as possible. She went there so often, the librarian knew what she liked to read and would always have some books ready for her. Doris had a carefree childhood, and her high school years were true 50's with poodle skirts, saddle shoes and she wore many beautiful dresses during that time. Doris served as both class president and vice president in high school, and she excelled in everything she did, whether it was typing, playing an instrument, or participating in activities such as bowling and golfing in later years. Doris was a straight-A student, and while in high school, she and her sister, Charlotte, both worked as secretaries at Fritz Cassel & Zahn Insurance. She made wonderful friends in school, who became her lifelong friends. Her best friend's name was Doris, too, and her married name is Doris Wonder.

After high school, she was set to pursue a modeling career in New York, but fell in love with a handsome young man named Charles Baldridge. They married December 9, 1956, and had four children, Regina, Steve, Rhonda and Jeff. Her kids were all the apple of her eye. Doris loved decorating their homes, and she made them all beautiful. She stayed home and focused on raising their children until they were all in school and then she started working at Marathon Oil Company in Findlay, Ohio. Doris worked at Marathon for 17 years, where she eventually became executive secretary for the vice president of international. She retired at the age of 50, but not for long. She realized she was too young to retire, so she soon started working at DIFCO in Findlay, where she managed marketing and she worked there for 12 years.

Soon after retiring, she and her husband, Chuck, moved to Arizona, where three of their children lived. They moved to Trilogy at Power Ranch and enjoyed golfing and meeting new friends. They later moved to Mission Royale in Casa Grande, Arizona, where she resided until a year after Chuck's passing in 2013. At that time, Doris and her daughter, Regina (Jeanie), bought a home and lived together until her passing in 2025. Through the years, they lived together in a total of four homes, enjoyed traveling to many states, attended numerous concerts, dined at wonderful restaurants, and generally enjoyed life. Doris was beautiful, kind, loving, creative, thoughtful, intelligent, and she had a sparkle in her eyes and a smile that would light up any room. She lived her life with class, elegance, grace and integrity. Doris was a 1954 graduate of Carey High School.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Elsie (Robinette) Tucker; her siblings, Ted (Dolly) Tucker, Lucille (Alvin) Henry, Charles (Corky) Tucker, Carl (Jane) Tucker, Charlotte (Dean) Billock and Margie (Richard) Yingling; her husband, Charles Baldridge; her sons, Steve Baldridge and Jeff Baldridge; and her son-in-law, Timothy (Rhonda) Wood.

She is survived by her sister, Carol (Dave) Abel; her daughters, Regina Baldridge and Rhonda (Timothy) Wood; her grandchildren, Jaime (Missy) Wood and Rochelle Wood; and her great-grandchildren, Aidan Wood, Scarlett Wood, Breanna Acosta, Carissa Acosta, Danelle Acosta and Anthony Nieves. We love and miss her dearly. She was truly amazing!

A Celebration of her Life will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Moreno's, 109 W. Findlay St., Carey, OH 43316.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to Dorcas Carey Public Library, 236 E. Findlay St., Carey, OH 43316 (419) 396-7921.