Gladys Jane Baldwin

Gladys J. Baldwin, age 92, died May 11, 2016 in Bremerton, Washington. A Celebration of Life is planned for June 11, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at the Bremerton United Methodist Church, 1150 Marine Drive, Bremerton, WA. Miller Woodlawn Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Gladys was born January 6, 1924, to Ransom H. Walter and Edna I. (Cunningham) Walter in Conde in Spink County, South Dakota. She moved to North Lemmon, North Dakota in February of 1925 with her family. She attended the North Lemmon Consolidated School. She was in a two room school house, grades first through 4th was in one room, and 5th to 8th was in another room. When she entered her Junior year of High School, she was transferred to Lemmon, South Dakota to complete her education. She graduated from Lemmon High School in the Spring of 1941, at age 17. Gladys was raised in the family of 9 children.

During High School she took secretarial classes like typing and shorthand so landed a good job for a Prosecuting Attorney. One of first things she had to learn was how to use the telephone, not having one in her home. She said she did not know which end to talk into.

In April of 1944, she married Theron “Stub” Knapp in Baker, Montana. Together they raised 5 children, Terry, Betty, Lois, Donna, and Cheryl. Gladys and Stub moved from South Dakota to Washington State in 1948, residing on a farm outside Deer Park, Washington. They later moved to Quincy, Washington. Gladys and Stub later divorced. Gladys re-married in February of 1974, to Gilbert R. Baldwin in Seattle, Washington.

Gladys was employed with the State of Washington for 30 years, beginning her career as a clerk/typist and advancing to become the Administrator of the Department of Social and Health Services in Spokane County, Washington. Gladys loved to learn new things, and began her college studies after 4 of her 5 children were married or off to college themselves. She received her Bachelor’s Degree and then her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University. Her degree in Social Work took her to Seattle, Colfax, and eventually Spokane, Washington where she retired.

Gladys was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bremerton, Washington. Prior memberships were at the United Church of Christ and Nazarene Church in Spokane Valley, Washington.

When Gladys retired from the State of Washington at age 66, she wanted to continue giving to the community, so volunteered at a Spokane Community Center to teach the foreign born how to read and speak English, helping them become a U.S. Citizen.

Gladys loved to quilt and was sharing her sewing gift with her children and grandchildren. She loved to read and do the crossword puzzles. She was perfecting her love of oil painting, and has done several scenic landscapes. She spent time in her yard, growing flowers and took extra

time to be sure things look nice each spring and summer. While living in Spokane, had a nice garden and a raspberry patch that gave many pints of jam. Her special collections included elephants and “Beanie Babies.”

Gladys is survived by her children, Terry (Laura) Knapp of Boise, Idaho, Betty (Preston) Baker of Bremerton, Washington, Lois (Allen) Rieke of La Grande, Oregon, and Cheri Davis of Federal Way, Washington, stepsons Craig (Anita) Baldwin of Gig Harbor, Washington, Keith (Julie) Baldwin, of Oregon, and Steve (Cheryl ) Baldwin of California, sisters Belle Kvale of Lemmon, South Dakota, Ella Johnson of Groton, South Dakota, and Clara Leonard of Tallahassee, Florida. Gladys is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends, and her puppy companion “Sparky.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Donna (Knapp) Akins, husband Gilbert Baldwin, ex-husband Theron “Stub” Knapp, brothers Allen Walter, Barton Walter, Donald Walter, sisters Alice Walter, Phyllis Riddle of Lemmon, South Dakota.