Richard L. Baxter

Richard L. Baxter, 87, of rural Columbia City, died at 2:50 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 at Renaissance Village, where he had been a resident since July 2016.
He was born Oct. 24, 1930 in St. Marys, Ohio. At the age of 6, his family moved to Whitley County.
On Aug. 1, 1948, he was united in marriage to Clela Mae Wince. They made their home in Michigan a short time then Richland Township, Whitley County.
Dick worked at Dana in Fort Wayne and Columbia City from 1966 until 1981 when he began working for Gladeux until 1990. He also owned and operated a livestock trucking business from 1966 until 2000.
He was a member of The Warehouse church.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Clela Mae; four children, Elizabeth Ann (James) Walter, of Albuquerque, N.M., James L. (Donna) Baxter, of South Whitley, Linda Sue Ewing, of Columbia City, and Penny Denice (Chris) Haegert, of Larwill; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; and a sister, Sharon Conley, of Columbia City.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred L. (Marshall) Baxter; two sisters, Judith Carmichael and Janet Coffelt; two brothers, Bill Baxter and Gerald Gene Baxter; and a step-sister, Ruth Johnson.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial will be in Nolt Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials are to The Warehouse church. Online condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.