Former Batavians Lose Granddaughter in Newtown Tragedy
Former St. Mark's Church missionaries had moved to Newtown to be near their son's family. Their granddaughter, Charlotte, was one of the first-grade victims.
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Update: Here is visitation and memorial information for Charlotte Bacon.
The tragedy of Newtown, CT, extends to Geneva and Batavia.
Facebook posts and Internet records indicate that Dan and Lindie Bacon, former residents of Batavia and members of St. Mark's Church, are the grandparents of Charlotte Bacon, 6, one of the 20 first-graders who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
"The tragedy has hit our own Geneva," a Facebook post said. "Dan and Lindie Bacon, who were members of St. Mark's church, moved to Sandy Hook to help their son and daughter-in-law care for their two young grandchildren. Their granddaughter, Charlotte, was one of the 1st grade victims. Please pray for this family and for all the families that are trying to get through such a senseless loss. I'm beyond tears."
On Friday morning, 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot his mother, then broke into the elementary school and opened fire using semi-automatic weapons, killing six adults and 20 children, including Charlotte, according to police.
Dan and Lindie Bacon were missionaries with OMF International, an organization that brings the gospel to many of the countries in East Asia and has pioneering ministry in the rest.
A post on the OMF Australia Facebook page shares the sad news.
"Tragically OMF'ers Dan and Lindie Bacon's six-year old grand-daughter Charlotte was one of the children shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Lord Jesus, bring healing to the broken hearts of many ... "
Geneva's St. Mark's Church website lists Dan as the chair of the church's Mission Commission.
Dan and Lindie had moved to Newtown to be with their son, Joel, his wife, Joanne, and their children, Charlotte and her older brother, Guy.
"They were pretty much the nicest people you could imagine ... always willing to help anyone in need," says a post in ReadingEagle.com, a Pennsylvania news website, in reference to the Bacon family. Joel was a graduate of Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia, PA.
Dan and Lindie Bacon were at a mission workshop in Canada in January 2012, when they wrote a Christmas letter explaining their plans. At that time, there were still recovering from injuries they had sustained in a car accident two years earlier.
"Assuming we can relocate, we are aiming now to move to Connecticut to live close to our youngest son and family so they we can be of help to them and they to us," the letter says. "Please pray for the Lord’s clear direction and provision."
How to Help Families Affected by Newtown School Shooting
The United Way of Western Connecticut, in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank, created the Sandy Hook School Support Fund to help provide support services to the families and community that are affected.
Check donations may be mailed to:
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470
If you have questions on the fund, you may call 800-461-0672.
A former Sandy Hook Elementary School student named Ryan Kraft, also a longtime neighbor of the Lanza family, posted a Local Voices blog on our sister site, Newtown Patch, saying he set up a fund to help heal his community.
The link to the fund site is here — http://www.crowdrise.com/SHSRelief — and according to Kraft, all monies are directed toward the school's PTSA organization.
CL
10:50 am on Sunday, December 16, 2012
Dan and Linde lived 2 doors down from me in Batavia. Such nice people. Such heartbreaking news.
Jon Azavedo
1:42 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
"The tragedy has hit our own Geneva." What a ridiculous comment. No it hasn't, it struck former residents, now living 1,000 miles away. THEY suffered a tragedy, not Geneva. Why do some feel a need to localize this incident?
Andrea Cladis
2:58 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
That is an incredibly insincere comment, Jon. I know the Bacon family as I have been attending and working at St. Mark's for most of my life. When you are part of a Congregation and something like this happen - yes, it does hit much closer to home. I hope you can find the compassion in your heart to understand that.
Tired
1:03 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2012
I agree Jon, whenever something happens you here about the Chiacago connection. these journalist and reporters are too damm lazy to get off there buts and go find some real local news. Just yesterday there was a mudslide and train derailment in California and "wow" wouldn't you know of course a Chicago connection. Recently there was a woman killed by family dog and you know, not one Publication got the breed of the dog correct. I am close to that family that's how I know but they ran it without ever looking into it. Sad that these idiots get paid good money.
Jon Azavedo
7:55 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
Quit the sermonizing, Andrea. It was a tragedy for the Bacons, and you feel sympathetic. So do millions of others. It has NOT hit Geneva, it has upset some who know the family more than others-worldwide. I'm simply tired of localizing every tragedy that strikes the country, starting w/ so-called journalists.
Avett Green
8:47 pm on Monday, December 17, 2012
Jon, you sound tired, period.
Jon Azavedo
9:03 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
I am tired Elaine Lane. Tired of the sensationalism, tired of the constant reporting about this kid and his mother, tired of all the pictures in the news of bowed heads and the pleading of how to protect our kids. The guy was a nut job, turns out his mom was a nut job too. It happened and it's terrible. And nothing can be done about it. Not gun control, not locking down schools. But the so-called experts will now crawl out from under their rocks to tell us what should be done. And some school administrators will fall for it, eliminate recess, place armed guards at the front door of schools. And whats most ironic is, this kid was home-schooled.
Jennifer
9:11 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
Andrea, Please know that others do understand that this does affect our community and the residents who knew the Bacons. It does bring it close to home. There is nothing wrong with The Patch reporting that and also, in turn, lets those who may have known the Bacons be aware of their great loss.
Beth
9:37 am on Monday, December 17, 2012
I am very sorry for your loss, Dan and Lindie. My prayers are with you, and all of Newtown.