Robert Badger Blaydes

Bob worked for the B&O Railroad in the Maintenance of Way Department. Here is his obituary: Robert Harry Blaydes, 58, of Delphi, passed away Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette, from a long and courageous battle with cancer. Bob was born Aug. 14, 1949, in Crawfordsville, the son of Robert B. & Jenny (Lindh) Blaydes. He graduated from Roachdale High School in 1967 and played baseball and basketball there. In 1972, he graduated from Purdue University and was a member of the Purdue Baseball team. During his time at Purdue, he also played summer baseball for semi-pro teams in Danville, Plainfield and Staunton. He played Connie Mack baseball in 1966 and 1967 on Plainfield's C & E Drug team. Through these experiences he developed many friendships and fond memories. Bob thoroughly enjoyed his profession as an educator while he worked in the Lebanon Community School system as a physical education teacher and 8th-grade basketball coach. He then moved to the Clinton Prairie Community School System at the start of the '75-'76 school year. There he was a teacher, freshman basketball coach, JV basketball coach, and varsity basketball coach. He also coached the varsity baseball team. His association with the Clinton Prairie School System lasted through the 1994 school year. Bob then moved to the Knox Community School System as a teacher and varsity basketball coach. From 1998 until the spring of 2007, he was athletic director for the Delphi Community School System and was the High School Key Club Sponsor, retiring in the spring of 2007. His memberships included various coaching associations, Delphi Kiwanis Club, where he was a charter member and past president. He formerly attended Manson Congregational Christian Church. Bob was an old movie buff, especially Gene Autry movies. The loves of his life were family, fishing and coaching. Family surviving include his wife, Suzanne Blaydes of Delphi; two daughters, Amy Blaydes of Frankfort and Becky (Randie) Dial & children Carter, Cayleigh, & Cora of Lebanon; three step sons, Kent (Marie Hunley) Wien & son Tanner of West Lafayette, Mark (Erin) Wien & children Logan, Camden & Kendall of Carmel, and Matt (Erika) Wien & son Tatian of Walnut, Calif.; and two brothers, Jeffrey O. (Judy) Blaydes of Coatesville and Fred E. (Denise Gentry) Blaydes of Roachdale. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial services will be 3 p.m. in Roachdale. Reporter, The (Lebanon, IN) | 13 August 2008