Tributes

Spencer Roe "Rainbow" Baen March 20, 1921 – May 30, 2014 The Family of "Rainbow" Baen is sharing the news of his passing at his home in San Antonio. Holding hands with his sons John, Peter, and Paul, his earthly life of significant successes in so many respects came quietly to an end… Born in San Antonio prior to the great Depression, he learned to save, embraced the value of education, and actively pursued life as a humble man. After completing his Mechanical Engineering Studies at Texas A&M in 1943, he was commissioned as an officer in the US Army and married his love Joyce "Tinkerbelle" Kirkland, also of San Antonio. Together they raised four children, each of whom he considered "Dynamic", as they traveled extensively and "soaked up the culture" of wherever they were. During his distinguished military career, his education continued with graduate and post-graduate degrees in Engineering from California Institute of Technology. As an academician, Dr. Baen was also called on to participate at the Army War College in Washington DC. His leadership was evident through four years at the Pentagon, as project manager for the Shillelagh Missile, and as "Herr Colonel Doktor" Baen, the commanding officer for both Kleber and Panzer Kasernes in Kaiserslautern in West Germany. His commitment to our Country, his Family and his Faith was evident. As a decorated officer in the United States Army, he was twice awarded The Legion of Merit for "Exceptionally Meritorious Conduct in the Performance of Outstanding Services". "Rainbow" and his wife Joyce retired to Bryan, Texas in 1970 where he began his second career as an administrator at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station at his alma mater, Texas A&M University. While serving as the Director of the Center for Energy and Mineral Resources, he gained international notoriety for his role in the World War II "German Document Retrieval Program" related to the technology surrounding Nazi Germany's coal gasification and liquefaction. He and Joyce acquired their lake cabin the "Camp Creek Country Club" in Robertson County in 1979 and were enjoying their first three grandchildren when, after an extended illness and hospitalization, Joyce passed away in 1982. In 1984 he married Pat Castillon of Fort Worth, Texas, who relocated to Bryan to support Rainbow as he strived to complete his second successful career. Together they would volunteer their time and talent at their church and other many worthy recipients. And, there was always room for young Aggies away from home in need of a second home near that prestigious university. They also enjoyed extensive travel to visit family and friends around the world, and especially hosting routine homecomings in Bryan and at Camp Creek for their many friends, combined families and loving grandchildren…especially for Texas A&M home football games! During their marriage, they joined together to bury her son Dr. George Castillon of Houston, and his daughter Rosemary Kay Baen Brooks of Dripping Springs, Texas. Then suddenly in August 2002, "Grandmother Pat" died in her sleep and Rainbow was once again a widower… Rainbow remained in Bryan a few more years, and then moved back to his hometown to take up residence at the Air Force Village in San Antonio, Texas. Over the years he would adjust from independent living to assisted living and finally into the AFV-II Health Care Center, later named "the Vista". Thanks to his sons and his "Visiting Angles," Rainbow continued traveling, though less often than he preferred. When passing through the gates of AFV upon his return, he would always comment: "It's great to be home!" At the Air Force Village II "Vista", Rainbow made many friends with his neighbors, the Administrators, and especially his many care providers. Special thanks are in order for members of the Visiting Angels agency, who supplemented the loving care he received from them during his last four years of what he called "Country Club Living". He is survived by his eldest son John Spencer Baen and his wife Jamie of Argyle, Texas, their young sons Jaxon Spencer and Jaeger Roe; and his grown children Hunter Wood of College Station and Jennifer Joyce of San Antonio. Also, his son Peter Roe Baen and his wife Dee Dee of San Marcos, Texas, and their children Thomas Spencer and his wife Christen of Pearland, Texas; Jason Roe and his wife Raegan of Buda, Texas; Kirkland Adams Baen of Big Spring, Texas and his children Noah Andrew and Aubrey Ella of San Marcos; Grace Elizabeth of San Marcos. Rainbow's youngest son S. Paul Baen resides in Ingleside, Texas, and his daughter Shelby Kay of College Station, Texas. He was predeceased by his daughter Rosemary Kay Baen Brooks, and survived by his son-in-law Henry H. Brooks, II, and grandson Henry Harrison Brooks, III, of Dripping Springs, Texas, He is also survived by his step daughter Karen Castillon Burpo and her husband Chris Burpo of Alpharetta, Georgia, and their son Scott Castillon Burpo and his wife Keri of Austin, Texas. Spontaneous celebrations of his life are encouraged. To allow time to for "Rainbow's" extended family and numerous friends to schedule sufficient time together to celebrate this member of our "Greatest Generation" a formal memorial service at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas, has been scheduled for July 18, 2014, where Rainbow was Baptized 93 years ago. Following the service, a reception and continuing celebration of Rainbow's life will continue at the Air Force Village II "Vista", his home for the last 9 years of his life, where the Family asks that all join together to honor the many members of the staff at Air Force Village In lieu of flowers, the Family asks that donations be considered in the honor of Spencer Roe Baen to St. Andrews Episcopal Church of Bryan, Tx ; 217 W. 26th St., Bryan; The Texas A&M Foundation, 401 GEORGE BUSH DR. College Station, Tx; Air Force Villages Widows Fund, 5100 John D. Ryan Blvd.San Antonio, TX 78245 or other church/school of preference. Those that know there is a God, or better still know God personally, can always bask in his Love. As often demonstrated by Spencer "Rainbow" Baen, we can be Blessed by and/or Bless others by the Light that comes from a childlike faith in God.

Tributes

Spencer Roe "Rainbow" Baen

March 20, 1921 - May 30, 2014