Munford – GEORGE ROBERT BADDOUR was born January 29, 1927 in Munford, Tipton County, Tennessee to Robert Kary and Rose Haddad Baddour. He grew up in Munford and after serving in the U.S. Navy from 1945 through 1946 as a Hospital Corpsman in the Pacific Theater, married his childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Fletcher. They were married for almost 50 years when she passed away in 2000 and had four children: Dr. and Mrs. George R. Baddour, Jr., an orthopaedic surgeon in Knoxville, Tennessee; Marybelle Baddour Arnett, Vice President of Franchise Development for The Promus Companies in Memphis; Commander and Mrs. Barry A. Baddour, U.S. Navy Retired and pilot for Delta Airlines; and Mr. and Mrs. Kary Baddour, a researcher in operations management for Federal Express in Memphis. He also has four grandchildren, Hunter Baddour of Knoxville, Claire Arnett of Memphis, Nicholas and Natalie Baddour of Madison, Georgia. He leaves his wife, Charlotte O. Baddour of Munford, his mother-in-law, Pauline Dodson Grimes of Covington, his stepsons, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Orsborn, Jr. of Brighton, Mr. and Mrs. James Oakley, Jr. of Covington and five step-grandchildren. He leaves three sisters, Mrs. Lilly Icenhour of Munford, Mrs. Helen (Harry) Deneka of Millington and Mrs. Nellie (Harvey) Pike of Dyersburg. A twin brother, Mr. Harry (Jeanne) Baddour of Pulaski, Tennessee. Also numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Kary and Rose Haddad Baddour and one brother Kary Baddour.

Brother Baddour was a member of the Munford Presbyterian Church for over 60 years. He served as Sunday School Superintendent; Deacon from 1948-1965 and Elder from 1965 until his death. Brother Baddour served his community as City of Munford Alderman for 22 years, 1965-1987 and Tipton County Magistrate (County Commisioner) for 8 years 1970-1978. He also served on the Tipton County Planning Committee and the Tax Rate Committee. In 2001, he was selected Outstanding Person of the Year by the South Tipton Chamber of Commerce.

Brother Baddour was educated in the Tipton County Schools and graduated from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1947. He was a funeral director for 65 years where he owned and operated Munford Funeral Home and branches for 56 years. Brother Baddour was raised a Master Mason in Tipton Lodge #226 F. & A.M. in Munford, Tennessee in 1948, served as Worshipful Master in 1951, and served as Treasurer, until the time of his death, a period of over 40 years. In 1975, Brother Baddour served the state of Tennessee as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons. At the time of his death, he was the Senior Past Grand Master in the state of Tennessee. Since 1975, Past Grand Master Baddour has served on several Grand Committees for the Grand Lodge of Tennessee. In 1952, he received the Scottish Rite Degrees in the Memphis Scottish Rite Bodies; received the KCCH in 1967; was coroneted a 33° IGH in 1975; served as Master of Kadosh in the Memphis Consistory in 1978-1979; Treasurer of the Memphis Scottish Rite Bodies from 1980-1991; became a life member in 1981; appointed Personal Representative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Tennessee on January 1, 1987 and served in that capacity until becoming Personal Representative Emeritus on February 1, 2007, and served as Venerable Master of the Memphis Lodge of Perfection 1992-1993. Brother Baddour was elected a 33° Grand Cross at the 2001 Bicentennial Session of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Scottish Rite Mason by the Supreme Council in Washington, DC. At the time of his death, Brother George was the only Grand Cross in Tennessee. He was a long time member of the Advisory Conference of the Memphis Bodies and the Memphis Scottish Rite Foundation, Inc. Brother Baddour was life member and past presiding officer of each of the Millington York Rite Bodies; Past Prior of the Tennessee Priory #15 K.Y.C.H.; Past Sovereign of St. Stephens Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, Past Intendant General in Tennessee for the Red Cross, and in 2005 served North America as Grand Sovereign of the United Grand Imperial Council, Red Cross of Constantine. He was a member of the Tralee Council, Knight Masons; West Tennessee York Rite College; Emerald Isle Council#346, Allied Masonic Degrees; Royal Order of Jesters; Royal Order of Scotland; AL Chymia Shrine Temple; and Past Preceptor of Holy Manger Tabernacle #XLVIII, H.R.A.K.T.P. For his service to the youth, Brother George received the DeMolay Legion of Honor and the Rainbow Grand Cross of Color, the highest honor bestowed for service by each of those organizations. Brother George was also a member of Volunteer Chapter #414, National Sojourners; the Isaac Shelby Camp, Hero’s of ’76; the Munford Chapter #380, Order of Eastern Star; and the Tennessee Masonic Veterans.

Brother Baddour’s visitation for the Munford community will be Friday, February 27, from 1 p.m. till 9 p.m. at Munford Funeral Home in Munford. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, February 28, at Munford Baptist Church. The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to: Munford Presbyterian Church Building Fund, Box 1088, Munford, TN 38058, The Baddour Center, 3297 Highway 51 S., Senatobia, MS 38668, The Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorder Fund, 825 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Munford Funeral Home Munford Chapel (901)837-0123 (Published in The Commercial Appeal 2/27/2009)