Our History

Walter E. Baird, started in the funeral business in the late 1800’s, in the Scottsburg and Conesus areas. He moved his business to the Wayland area in the early 1900’s and continued to operate the business until his death in 1930. In the early 1920’s his son, W. Eugene Baird, continued the family tradition and opened a business in the N. Cohocton/Atlanta area. In 1930, he moved to Wayland and operated the family business until his untimely death in 1937. Eugene’s wife, Cora (Reigelsperger) Baird, operated the business with their eldest son, Theodore E. Baird, who also purchased a business in Dansville in 1949, they ran these businesses together until Cora’s death in 1955. In 1959, Walter E. (Gene) Baird III, the youngest of the four children took over the family business. In 1992, he and his two sons, Walter E. (Chip) Baird IV and Richard C. Baird, purchased the Willis C. Moore Funeral Home in Naples. Walter E. (Gene) Baird III retired in 1997. In 2001, Walter E. (Chip) Baird IV and Richard C. Baird purchased the Chamberlin Funeral Home in Dansville. On January 8, 2008, the Walter E. Baird & Sons Funeral Home, Inc. and Walter E. (Gene) & Joanne Baird moved to their new home of 300 West Naples St., Wayland. This new location was the former home of Howard & Helen Gunlocke, founders of the Gunlocke Chair Factory in Wayland. In October of 2018, Rich’s son, Brock, a 5th generation descendent from Walter Baird I, received his funeral directing license and began assisting his father and uncle with the family business. On January 13, 2022, Chip retired and Rich became the sole proprietor of the funeral homes. Together, Rich & Brock look forward to maintaining the 120+ year tradition of, “A Family Serving Families.”