Judith (Judy) Ann Baxter, 92, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 04, 2026, at Winfield Senior Living.

Born October 2, 1933, in Waukon, Iowa, she was the oldest child of Harold Roth and Gertrude (Stock) Roth. Judy’s early years were spent in Waukon, Iowa, where her mother owned the local gas station. Judy remembers pumping gas in the middle of the night, at the age of eight, for a stranded motorist in a Model T. The family moved to Waukegan, Illinois, where Judy graduated from Waukegan High School in 1951. After high school, Judy worked at the Great Lakes Naval Base. One fateful night, Judy and her roommate snuck into a dance on base by pretending to be the dates of marines they knew. There, Judy met a handsome sailor, Jim Baxter. They danced all night and at the conclusion of the dance, Jim asked her to marry him. Judy played hard to get and waited three weeks before agreeing. By then, Jim had been transferred to Virginia. Judy flew to Norfolk so they could marry. Unfortunately, they were given bad information from the Navy Chaplin and it took two days to find a Justice of the Peace in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, who performed the ceremony five minutes before the court house closed. As a result, Jim missed his ship, the Antietam, as it sailed for England and he spent a week in the brig while Judy flew back to Illinois.

Once reunited with his ship, Judy joined Jim in the Boston area for three years where they attended Red Sox games, sitting in the bleachers for $.75. At the end of Jim’s naval career they moved to Winfield where Jim continued his work with Southwestern Bell. They welcomed their only child, John, in 1957. The family enjoyed camping, fishing, collecting insulators, going to the casino and working on the family farm in Longton, Kansas. Jim proceeded her in death in 1990.

Judy worked for Smith Moon and Janicke, Herlocker, and Bishop before settling in at Gott as the administrative assistant to John Havely in 1976. She would remain with Gott/Rubbermaid throughout its many reorganizations. She received the Outstanding Older Workers Award from the Kansas Department of Commerce in 2012, for her outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment. Judy’s final retirement from Rubbermaid was in 2021, at the age of 88. She enjoyed fond memories and loving friends from her time there. Judy moved to Wisconsin in 2023, to live with her sister, Jo, and to reconnect with family. ‘The girls’ enjoyed Brewers games, fish fries, going to the casino and much laughter before Judy returned to Winfield this May, coming full circle and resting now in peace.

Her family includes her son, John Baxter, and wife Becky of South Bend, IN; her sisters Joan Boland of Wauwatosa, WI, and Jan Warren of Decorah, IA, her brother Rick Warren (Ginnie) of LaCrosse, WI; her grandchildren Sam Baxter and Sara Baxter (Trenton Snyder) and her many adoring step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, Judy was preceded in death by her brother, Don Roth, her step-daughter, Tamara Kanu, and a niece, Mary Boland.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at Highland Cemetery under the direction of Miles Funeral Service.

The family would like to thank her many friends who have visited her since returning to Winfield, especially her very dear friend, Tatta Roth. They also wish to acknowledge the outstanding care she received from the staff at Winfield Senior Living and Harry Hynes Hospice.

A memorial has been established in Judy’s name for Harry Hynes Hospice. Contributions may be made through Miles Funeral Service.