William Edward Baxter, 81, passed away in Corpus Christi, Tex. on Oct. 23. He was born on March 23, 1931 in Portland, to William and Gladys Wilson Baxter. He graduated from Portland High School in 1949 and received a BS in Theology from Nyack College (Nyack, N.Y.) in 1956.
William married Evelyn C. Pulsifer on June 4, 1955, celebrating 57 years together in 2012.
He was pastor for more than 30 years of several Baptist churches in Maine: Woolwich Baptist, Steep Falls Baptist, Greene Baptist, and the Corliss Street Baptist in Bath, where he was the longest-serving pastor–10 years–in the church’s 135-year history. In 1981, he received the “Good Citizenship Award” for service to the community from the Greene Men’s Club. He retired in 1994.
William was a member of the First Baptist Church in Nobleboro and the First Baptist Church in Rockport, Tex.
A winter resident at Woody Acres RV Park in Fulton, Tex. since 1996, he was active in the Good Samaritans and conducted worship services at Woody Acres during the winter months.
During the warmer months, William and Evelyn would stay on Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, in a cottage they built themselves (with help from many friends). William was always involved in one project or another, and over the years made it into a beautiful lakeside retreat that his family continues to enjoy.
An active traveler, especially during retirement, he and Evelyn visited all 50 states and several Canadian provinces, traveled to England, France, and Switzerland in Europe, and to the island nation of Madagascar in Africa. William had a dry sense of humor and a gift for making conversation with people from all walks of life, sometimes even with those who spoke no English.
William’s extensive coffee mug collection spanned his life and travels and every spare nook and cranny of the kitchen.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Baxter; daughter, Beth Lowell and husband Tracy of Centennial, Col.; sons Edward and wife Erika Baxter of Ithaca, N.Y. and Bruce and wife Hope Baxter of San Antonio, Tex.; brother, Raymond Baxter of Portland; grandchildren, David W. Baxter, Amanda A. Baxter Noll, Ouda A. Baxter, Jade W. Baxter, Alyssa B. Lowell, Ashley M. Lowell; and great-grandchildren, Logan Baxter, Matthew Rodriguez, Nathan Noll, Hunter Noll, Tanner Noll and Gracie Noll.
A service in Maine will be announced in the summer of 2013.
To share a memory or story with William’s family, please visit his on-line Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.
