William L. Baxter, of Aurora Shores, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the age of 81.  Bill was born on August 28, 1938, in Canton, Ohio the son of Rex and Pearl Baxter.  As a youngster, Bill excelled in baseball as a pitcher playing sandlot baseball in the Greater Stark County's Summer Leagues.  He was a four year varsity pitcher for Canton McKinley High School achieving several no-hit games with an outstanding ERA pitching record he graduated in 1956 accepting a baseball scholarship to Ohio University.  In 1957 he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox where he played for two seasons before injuring his pitching shoulder and having to retire from Major League Baseball.  Returning to Ohio University to complete his education, he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.

After serving in the U.S. Army with the 1st Armored Division in Fort Hood, Texas he returned to North Canton to work in the Finance Department for the Hoover Company.  Following his dream of Sales and Marketing he began working for Sugardale Foods holding sales positions in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

In the late 1970's he partnered with four individuals to create and operate The Homestead Provision Company in Alliance, Ohio.  The company successfully operated throughout Ohio for several years until a faltering economy and volatile interest rates reaching as high as 20 percent during the Carter Presidency caused Homestead like so many companies in 1981 to close.  Sugardale offered Bill the opportunity to return to Canton as Vice President of Sales and Marketing where he worked until his retirement in 2001.  Bill's mantra that led to his business success was "Work Hard, Play Hard".

Bill enjoyed boating and loved his free time cruising the Great Lakes with his wife, family and many friends on his beloved Chris-craft he named "Strings".  He cherished his memories of Put-In-Bay where "Strings" was moored at the Crews Nest most week-ends during the summer.  Second to his love of being on the water he was an avid fan of the Cleveland Indians and rarely missed a game.

Bill is survived and will be dearly missed by Carole (Eddy) Baxter, his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 59 years; his brother Bob Baxter and wife Jane of Port Saint Lucie, Florida; two daughters, Linda Baxter of Aurora, Ohio, Kathy Baxter of Streetsboro, Ohio; three grandchildren; Alexis Crewse of Athens, Georgia, Zachary Crewse of Chicago, Illinois and Kaitlin Baxter of Streetsboro, Ohio.

Due to the Coronavirus Restrictions the family has decided that there will be no funeral services until this crisis has passed.  A memorial in his honor will be held when circumstances allow.  During a private family ceremony his ashes will be placed in his cremation monument at his family plot at Leavittsville cemetery in Leavittsville, OH

In lieu of flowers, Bill would like memorial donations made to the ALS Foundation in the memory of his sister-in-law Karen Sue Eddy Faulk. www.alsa.org/donate