Irmgard Julianna "Irma" Baldwin

1944 - 2018

Thank you for enriching our lives' with your beauty, your wisdom, your warmth, your generosity and your love.
Irmgard "Irma" Julianna Baldwin, 73, passed away, at peace, in the arms of her fiance, on April 9, 2018, after a long courageous battle against cancer. Irma was born in Roth, Bavaria, in the German Alps, to Margaret Bayer Urban and Josef Urban on July 6, 1944. She endured the abject poverty of post-war Europe and the terrifying raids of the Stasi, East German state police. Her mother remarried and Irma arrived in the U.S., at age 10, not knowing a word of English. Ignored by the Michigan school teachers, Irma taught herself English by reading the newspapers and watching television. She also had the highest math scores in the entire school. The family moved to Alaska, where Irma spent 28 wonderful years. She became beautiful young lady. Immediately after graduating from East Anchorage High School, Irma joined a large insurance company, where she quickly became office manager. She survived the 1964 9.2 mega-quake that destroyed part of Anchorage. She then joined a large construction company and learned accounting. With her knowledge and independent adventurous spirit she ran her own accounting firm, managed a grocery store, raced sports cars (the only female) for the Anchorage Sports Car Club and then spent a year in Mexico. Upon returning to Alaska, Irma met and married Alford Baldwin, originally from Tazewell, Va. Irma adopted Al's son, Aldo, and then Al and Irma had their daughter, Amanda. Irma and Al developed real estate and ran a highly successful rental business. Upon returning to Virginia, they developed Baldwin Estates, a high end residential subdivision with Irma designing and managing the property. Al and Irma were also farmers including an ostrich farm. Irma became owner manager of high Meadows Farm and Baldwin City Properties.
Moving to Wytheville, Va., Irma was an active member of WBAWL, the animal welfare society. She took in "Snoopy," her rescue dog. Irma was active with the Red Hats of Independence, was an avid award winning gardener and an accomplished water colorist with a sharp eye for detail. She always participated in Chautauqua and other community activities. Despite the cancer, Irma was able to fulfill many of her bucket list wishes. She traveled to Ireland, got to return to her native Germany, attend live performances of The Lion King and her favorites, ll Divo and Celine Dion. Best of all she lived to see the birth of her great-granddaughter, Molly.
Irma was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Bayer Urban Meeks; and her husband of 38 years, Alford Baldwin.
Irma is survived by her fiance/life partner, Gordon J. Settlow, M.D.; daughters, Amanda Baldwin and Angela Porter, both of Wythe County; son, Aldo Baldwin (Wanda) of Maryland; three wonderful grandchildren, Jade Pulliam (fiance Alex Stanley), Trenton Gravley and Tommy Jarvis; and beautiful great-granddaughter, Molly Skye Stanley.
This remarkable lady made everyone's life beautiful. Her physical beauty was only exceeded by her beautiful heart and mind. She was a lifelong devout Christian, a German-Scandinavian Lutheran. Irma was warm, generous and cheerful, and imparted wisdom, joy and love to all who knew her. We will all continue to love, adore and cherish Irma Julianna Baldwin.
A celebration of Irma's life will be held on May 12, 2018, at the Wytheville Golf Club, from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Please bring your stories and photos to share.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wythe Bland Animal Welfare League.
Online condolences may be sent to www.grubbfuneralhome.com.