Charles Baer

Charles Henry Baer, Jr., 94, of Morgantown, died Monday, February 3, 2014 at Sundale Nursing Home. Charlie was born in Columbus, OH on September 1, 1919, the son of the late Harry Baer and the late Bessie (Reedy) Baer. He earned BS and MS degrees in botany at Ohio State University and his doctorate from the University of Maryland in 1961. Charlie served as a radio operator in the United States Army during WW II. In 1948, he joined the faculty of West Virginia University teaching plant physiology and later taught the first ecology class at WVU. His extensive research included many aspects of plant physiology and environmental factors affecting plants. He was a long-time champion for the protection and preservation of scenic and ecological resources. In the 1960's Charlie assisted the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior to identify potential national landmarks, surveying more than 600 sites from Watertown, NY to Tuscaloosa, AL. Charlie especially loved West Virginia. His work was instrumental in preserving places of natural beauty and scientific interest such as Coopers Rock State Park, Dolly Sods Wilderness, Greenland Gap, Cathedral State Park, and Cranesville Swamp Preserve. He was a charter member of the WV chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and in 2000 he was honored by that organization as the "Conservation Hero" for West Virginia. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Boardman Baer; stepchildren, John R. Algor of Arlington, VA; Tenya Price and husband Grant of Las Cruces, NM; niece Valerie Maldonado and husband Andy of Inverness, FL; and extended family. He was predeceased by his first wife, Virginia Corp Baer. A celebration of Charlie's life will take place at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at The Village at Heritage Point, 1 Heritage Point, Morgantown. Honoring his wish, cremation services have been provided by the Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown. Inurnment will be at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown, WV. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Charlie's memory to the West Virginia office of the Nature Conservancy, 194 Airport Rd, Elkins, WV 26241 Attn: Amy Martin (donate online at https://support.nature.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5560&5560.donation=form1 ).