Denis Norris Baxter

Denis Norris Baxter passed away peacefully from complications due to a stroke on August 29, 2023 in Greenville, NC. Waiting for him on the other side was his beloved wife, Judy, as well as his daughter Rebekah, grandson Charlie, mother Grace and father Norris.
He leaves behind his loving children Randy (Kim) Baxter, Valette (Alex) Piper-Bledsoe, Abby (Mike) Higgins, Nate Piper, and Greg (Vickie) Baxter, as well as 9 grandchildren (David, Amy, Ryan, Eleanor, Matthew, Anthony, Nicholas, Ein, Jacob, Amelia and Cassidy), two great-children (Phoenix and Waylon) and many beloved nieces and nephews. Family definitely meant everything to Denis.
Born in Newcastle, PA on December 4, 1939, Denis traded coal dust for Army boots to see the world. After achieving the rank of sergeant, he left the Army in 1957 but not before accumulating a whole bunch of stories and a lingering fondness for German wiener schnitzel.
He married Shirley Braatz and settled in the Washington, DC suburbs to raise two children and provide marketing expertise to Department of Defense contractors. He married Judy Romesburg Piper in 1981, gaining four bonus kids in the process-all of whom were happy to call him "dad."
Denis and Judy semi-retired to Washington, NC in 1995. He filled his time restoring Triumph cars, working with his best friend on building and restoration projects that caught their fancy, and writing letters to the editor. He took his role as "PapPap" very seriously, loving and caring for his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After tenderly caring for his wife Judy during her final illness, Denis suffered a series of strokes but never lost his sense of humor or love of family time. He was loved and will be greatly missed.
His ashes will be spread with Judy's during a private ceremony, to be held at a later date. No services are scheduled at this time.
Joseph B. Paul, Jr. Funeral Service of Washington, North Carolina, is honored to serve the Baxter family.