Alice Baxter
6/23/1921 - 3/06/2021 Formerly of Richmond, CA
Alice Baxter was born June 23, 1921 in Sunnyvale, California to Joseph and Ramunda Garcia. Alice grew up in Sunnyvale graduating from high school in what was then a primarily rural city. She spent her early youth working on her parent’s farm where the family grew green beans and other crops. She learned the value of hard work and became the farms irrigation specialist and helped before and after school to plant and harvest crops on the 160 acre farm. Alice had four Brothers and Sisters; Joseph, Peter, Marcy and Mary, all of whom pre-deceased Alice. The large number of siblings contributed to Alice developing a strong sense of family.
During World War II, Alice worked in a number of industries that supported the war effort. Following the war, Alice met her first Husband, Frank Swinford, a High School Teacher, who she married in 1948. They built a house in Richmond, CA in 1953 and moved there with her Mother, who they cared for until Mom’s death. In 1961, Alice and Frank adopted a daughter, Cathy. In 1977, Alice’s husband, Frank passed away suddenly from a heart attack. In 1980, Alice met Emeric Baxter at a Senior Citizens Dance in Richmond, Calif. She was immediately attracted to his kind soul and kidding personality and they were married the following year. Emeric had recently retired from the Santa Fe Rail Road and they spent their time lawn bowling and fishing on his boat.
Emeric and his first wife, Dencie adopted a boy in 1943, Eddie, who came to know and call Alice Mom. Alice was very happy during these later years and enjoyed every single moment of every single day with Emeric, until his passing in 2003. Alice was heartbroken following Emeric’s passing, but she continued to live a full life, and in 2020 was still living independently in the same home she moved into in 1953. However, following her 99th birthday, she needed some assistance with her everyday living and moved to the Rancho Mirage Assisted Living facility in Rancho Mirage, California. Alice was in the Assisted Living facility for 6 months but never alone and was visited three times a week by her Step Son, Eddie and his wife Peggy. Alice passed away peacefully from natural causes on March 6, 2021 just shy of her 100th birthday.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, April 16, for family and friends at St. Josephs Cemetery, San Pablo, CA.