Evelyn Irene Baldwin

Evelyn Baldwin, 99, of Spokane Valley, WA, went to be with her Lord while taking an afternoon nap on June 17, 2021. Evelyn was born on December 11, 1921, in Rosalia, WA to Guy E. Lindsey and Lois Ann Sloan. She grew up in small towns across the Eastern WA amongst the wheat farms of the Palouse and eventually graduated from North Central High School in Spokane, WA. She spent much of her early years surrounded by a large extended family. Living with a single parent and her younger sister Dorothy and brother Don, provided a wholesome yet simple life.

Evelyn married Layton Baldwin on May 3, 1941, as he entered WWII, where he spent four years in service to his country on the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. Evelyn worked those years in Seattle and lived for a brief time in Ketchikan, Alaska to be near him. After the war Layton and Evelyn settled in the Spokane Valley and had four children together; Don, Keith, Bruce, and Joann, all of whom survived her except Bruce, who died of cancer. Evelyn spent hours and days supporting Bruce as he underwent three trials of unsuccessful chemotherapy.

Evelyn and Layton were married 69 years, just two months short of their 70th anniversary, when Layton passed away on January 11, 2011. Evelyn was always caring for family, either her immediate family, her church family, or her extended family of relatives and friends. The Spokane Valley Baptist Church was her second home as she took part in choir, chaired many committees over the years, taught Sunday School, and served as Chair of the Church Administrative Board. Evelyn had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and lived out her life as a testament to his teachings in the Bible. Evelyn was often the family leader. She brought family together on numerous occasions and then supported those ties for everyone’s benefit.

Evelyn was a homemaker during the years the children were growing up, eventually returning to school to become a Montessori Teacher from 1964-1979. Caring for aging extended family members was always something that she always found time for. When Evelyn and Layton moved into Holman Gardens, an independent living facility next to the Spokane Valley Church, she became involved in committee work there as well as presiding over the Resident Council and made many friends in the facility.

Evelyn engaged in many extracurricular activities. She painted throughout her life and liked to play cards, pinochle especially. Her children and grandchildren continue to enjoy her paintings today. She also talked Layton into taking a writing class at Spokane Community College and they completed their Memoirs in 2002, “From Horse & Buggy to Spaceships!”; a set of personal stories highlighting their lives together, were enjoyed by family and friends alike. One of Evelyn’s stories was published locally.

There is no Memorial Service Planned at this time.