ASHLAND — Vera Baum, the “Grandma” of Grandpa’s Cheesebarn died Saturday at the age of 93, just two days after her husband, Paul Baum, died, according to an announcement on the Cheesebarn’s Facebook page.
“Our beloved Grandpa & Grandma, Paul & Vera Baum, have both went home to our Lord,” the Facebook post states. “Grandma & Grandpa celebrated 73 years of marriage on Dec. 4th & went home to Heaven within two days of each other.
“While we are saddened & this special couple will be missed beyond belief, the Lord has a greater purpose & has called them Home for Christmas.”
Vera was the daughter of “Grandpa Yarnam,” an Ohio cheesemonger who got his start in the early 1900s when he sold his only possession, a radio, for a wheel of Swiss cheese, according to the Cheesebarn’s website.
Vera and Paul married in 1949 and decided to continue Yarnam’s dream. So, in 1978 they worked with their daughter, Ronda Poorbaugh and her husband, Dick Poorbaugh to open Grandpa’s Cheesebarn.
Hundreds of commenters expressed their condolences and shared stories of “Grandpa” and “Grandma” after the announcement.
One commenter said she entered the store as a stranger and “left feeling like family” after meeting Paul and Vera.
Another commenter said their time working for Vera and Paul was “pure joy” and that they were “such a treasure.”
