David Foster Baldwin

David Foster Baldwin, 73, passed away on November 7, 2025 in Athens, Georgia.

Born April 20, 1952, in Norfolk, Virginia, David was the son of the late Lucie McMurry and Willett Foster Baldwin.

A native of Dallas, Texas, David attended Tufts University in Boston and then the University of Michigan in Anne Arbor, graduating with a MA in Area Studies focused on Russian Economics. However, David returned to Texas after a brief employment as a translator “inside the beltway” in Washington DC. He there began a career in oilfield services, computer science, and water resources, traveling widely including in Saudi Arabia.

David moved to the Athens area with his wife Sara in 1999 so she could pursue a Masters at the University of Georgia, initially continuing offshore oil exploration with Houston firm, Western Geophysical. David then attended Athens Tech and received a certificate in biotechnology, serving his last position before final retirement with a Biotech startup on Riverbend.

David loved sailing ships, having been volunteer crew on the Elissa tall ship out of Galveston. He loved dogs/hounds and was volunteer staff for a local hunt club. He was a life-long, avid photographer and reader. He not only studied in Russia but made several independent visits, the latest in 1997 with family and friends.

He was an active member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens as well as St. Alban’s in Elberton, Georgia.

A Memorial Service will be held after Thanksgiving, date and time to be announced.

David is survived by his wife of 26 years, Sara Sweeny Baldwin, sister Catharine McMurry Baldwin, and nephew Zach Baldwin (Cynthia). He shared life and laughter with Sara’s family including daughter-in-law Christine Carpenter (Bruce) of Athens and son-in-law Jeff Sylvester (Audra) of Suwanee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Safehouse Ministries, Elberton, Georgia https://safehouseministries.org

Berry Funeral Home and Crematory of Elberton has the arrangements for David Foster Baldwin.