HANCOCK – Baxter C. Walker, 86, died June 30, 2011, at his home. He was born Dec. 23, 1924, in Peru, son of the late Merton and Sadie (Kerr) Walker.
He was a World War II Army veteran from the 10th Mountain Division. It was his boyhood love of skiing that prompted him to get into the Mountain Division. He was a medic who served in Italy from March 1943 to July 1945, and he received the Bronze Star for driving an ambulance under fire while rescuing soldiers. After the war he used the GI Bill to help him graduate from University of Maine, Orono, in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. In 1950, he moved to Ellsworth, landing a job at Wholesale Distributors lumber-yard, staying there until the late 1980s. He then finished his career at Ellsworth Building Supply. Baxter was very active in the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed and had a passion for the Color Guard, participating at many funerals and parades. He was very proud of his ser-vice in the Color Guard. He is remembered late in his life for selling vegetables on the Mud Creek Road. He grew great gar-dens and loved to work them. He also enjoyed selling the vegetables to all the folks that stopped in throughout the years.
Baxter is survived by his daughter, Beverly Dow of Man-chester; his sons, Barry Walker of Croyden, N.H., David Walker and Michael Walker, both of Hancock; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, five nieces and nephews, and numerous other family members. He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria, in 1985.
Friends are invited to call 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 8, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ells-worth. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Woodbine Cemetery, Ells-worth, with the Color Guard. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Baxters’ memory may be made to Ellsworth Area Veterans Honor Guard, care of Tony Grimaldi, 556 Newbury Neck Road, Surry, ME 04684. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.