Viola E. Baldwin

formerly of Des Moines

Viola E. Baldwin, a former 75-year-resident of Des Moines passed into eternal life on Sunday, November 27, 2011, in Addison, Illinois, at the home of her eldest daughter, where Mrs. Baldwin had resided for the past year. A native Iowan, Mrs. Baldwin’s energetic and positive spirit allowed her to remain completely independent in her own home until the age of 94 when she decided to move to Rockford, Illinois, to be near her two daughters: Darelyn McWherter, Byron, Illinois, and Annette Baldwin, Addison, Illinois.

Mrs. Baldwin was born, March 19, 1908, the eldest of eight children, in Calumet, Iowa, to Gustav and Malinda Linneweh. She arrived in Des Moines in 1927 to attend Capitol City Commercial College. Upon graduation in 1928, she joined Meredith Publishing Company for six years, and went on to enjoy a long, successful career as a secretary in the city. During WWII she was with the U.S. Treasury Department and the Office of Price Administration; later with the Des Moines Main Post Office and the Intelligence Division of the Internal Revenue Service. She was a 57-year member of Grand Chapter of Iowa , Order of the Eastern Star; among the earliest members (early 1940s) of Redeemer Lutheran Church; a 30+ year-member of Lutheran Church Women; a volunteer at Des Moines Lutheran Hospital gift shop, and she served over 25 years as a precinct election official of Polk County.

In 1930, Viola was married to Douglas D. Baldwin, who preceded her in death in 1983. Viola was also preceded in death by her beloved sister, Luella Lockwood and six brothers, Gustav, Walter, Lester, Richard, Oscar and Harold Linneweh. She is survived not only by her two daughters, but by seven grandchildren – David Walwark, Sr. (Louise Gruenberg), Oak Park, Illinois; Alison Walwark, Crystal Lake, Illinois; Bruce Walwark, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Laura Carlson (Ken Carlson), Geneva, Illinois; Malinda McWherter, Naperville, Illinois; Jerry McWherter, Carlsbad, California; Bryan McWherter, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, as well as 15 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at McLaren’s Chapel, West Des Moines, on Thursday, December 1 at 10:30 a.m.