Turner Butler Baxter born on March 13, 1922 and went to be with our Lord on February 13, 2009. He was the second of four sons of the late RW and Sallie Baxter of Dallas, Texas, grew up in Oak Cliff and graduated from Sunset High School, where he was a member of the golf team, in 1939.

Turner attended the University of Texas in Austin but his college years were interrupted by his service in the army during World War II, so he graduated in 1946. He married Pauline Taylor Bond of Kaufman, Texas in 1947, and went to work for the family business, the Rio Grande National Life Insurance Company, eventually becoming Executive Vice President.

He and Pauline had two children, Paula Taylor Baxter Pace (1953-2007) and David Bond Baxter, and raised them in University Park. In the 1950s, he was President of the new Dallas Health and Science Museum in Fair Park, later named The Science Place, and now the Museum of Nature and Science.

In 1966, he was President of the Kiwanis Club of Dallas; he was also a member of the Salesmanship Club and the Dallas Country Club. He was an enthusiastic scouting volunteer in Circle Ten Council, serving as a District Chairman, participating in the Wood Badge program, and, after many years of service, receiving the coveted Silver Beaver Award.

Despite living in Dallas, the Baxters remained involved in the Kaufman community and retired there in the 1980s. For the next twenty years, Turner was an avid supporter of the Kaufman County Library, helping to raise funds for a new building, and was on the boards of the Kaufman Cemetery and the British Number 1 Flight Training School Museum in Terrell Texas. He and Pauline were active members of the First United Methodist Church of Kaufman.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline, his son, David, and wife, Dr. Barbara Stark Baxter, of Dallas, and 5 grandchildren: Christopher Ryan Pace of Dallas, Amy Taylor Pace of Brooklyn, New York, Richard Turner and Tara Lynn Baxter of Birmingham, Alabama, and Sarah Grace and James Calvert Baxter of Dallas. Visitation will be Monday, February 16, 2009 from 6 to 8 at the Parker-Ashworth Funeral Home in Kaufman. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Kaufman at 3 PM on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.

Turner Butler Baxter and family

Wife, Pauline
Son, David Bond Baxter and
daughter, Paula Taylor Baxter Pace

Tombstones of Turner Butler Baxter and Pauline Bond Baxter.