Francis Joseph Baptiste, 87, of Eastampton, NJ, formerly of New Bedford, died Wednesday, October 13 after a very brief illness. He was born and lived in New Bedford most of his life, moving to New Jersey four years ago to live with his daughter, Karen Kaylor.
Frank was the son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth (Hayes) Baptiste and the husband of Yvette G. (Cote) Baptiste to whom he was married 64 years.
An avid baseball fan, Frank loved to watch the St. Louis Cardinals, his favorite team from the time he was 12 years old. He was crazy about football and basketball as well. Frank also loved music, especially the Big Band music of his youth. He told everyone that Frank Sinatra was the best singer of them all.
Francis Baptiste was a combat veteran of the United States Army. He enlisted in November 1939, as a cadet pilot trainee flying the Ryan PT-22 Recruit aircraft. When World War II broke out during the final stages of his pilot training, his class was reassigned to the infantry, eventually being attached to the 75th Infantry Regiment. After the invasion of France in 1944, Francis moved with his unit on to the Ourthe River, Belgium. During the Ardennes-Alsace campaign, Sergeant Baptiste’s regiment suffered heavy casualties. On December 24, 1944, he was wounded in action in what was known as the Battle of the Bulge. For his heroic actions, Francis was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. Sergeant Baptiste recovered, returned to the States, and mustered out of the Army in December 1945. He rejoined the Army Reserves and remained in the service retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 1978, serving over 37 years.
In civilian life, Francis worked for the U.S .Postal Service as a letter carrier, retiring in 1975. He also served as Chairman for the Model Cities Planning Council in 1970 for three years.
Frank is survived by his wife, and three daughters, Patricia Baptiste of New Bedford, Karen Kaylor of Eastampton, NJ, and Francine Alfonse of Dartmouth. He was the beloved grandfather of Shauna Adi-Kaylor, Daniel Kaylor and Ryan Kaylor of Eastampton, Michael and Lauren Alfonse of Dartmouth and the late Thomas Alfonse, Jr., and the great-grandfather of Kalani and Kory. He was devoted to all of them as they were to him. He is also survived by a sister, Rita Lacala of Stoughton and a brother, Joseph Baptiste and his wife Theresa of Dartmouth, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Frank’s funeral will be held Tuesday, October 19, at 8:30 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM at Our Lady Of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, 233 County Street, New Bedford. Burial with military honors will follow in the Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne. Calling hours will be on Monday, October 18, from 4 to 8 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.