Baxter, Henri, CMDCM

Being retired and wheel chair bound I'm not doing much except usig my lap top and thinking of whom I can abuse and give a hard time to.

Henri L. "Hank" Baxter IV, CMDMC (SS/SW/DV), USN (Ret.), 72, of 51 Evergreen Lane, Oakdale, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sept. 16, 2009.

He was born July 19, 1937, in the Bronx, N.Y., the son of Beatrice (Kasbar) Baxter and the late Henry Baxter III.
He married Jennie (Davi) Baxter May 31, 1963 in Greenport, N.Y.; she passed away in December of 2001.
Hank entered the U.S. Navy in March 1958 and received recruit training in Great Lakes, Ill. He trained at the Navy Diving School at Coronado, Calif., followed by Sub School in Groton. He then trained at the Naval EOD School in Indian Head, Md. He received further training at Assault Boat Coxswains School in Coronado, Calif., Diving and Salvage School, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., and Combat Swimmer School, Coronado, Calif., and Little Creek,Va.
He served in the USS Bexar (APA-237), USS Cavalla (SS-244), USS Sablefish (SS-303), USS Segundo (SS-396) as COB, USS Diodon (SS-349) as COB, USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) as COB, also the USS Fulton (AS-11) as command master chief.
He further served with River Patrol Squadron 201 and Harbor Clearance Republic of Vietnam. He served as CMDMC of Navy Diving and Salvage School, Panama City, Fla., U.S. Submarine School, Groton, as CMDMC and Weapons Department MCPO. He served under Cmd. Submarine Group II and Cmd. SUBRON 3.
Upon retiring from the Navy, he went on to work for the State of Connecticut in the Marine Patrol and Special Service Unit. He retired from this position in October of 2001.
He was a life member of the Chesterfield Fire Department, a member of the Quaker Hill Rod and Gun Club, the Subvets, the Naval Fleet Reserve, the Montville VFW, and a member of the Montville Republican Town and Public Safety Committees. He was also a member of the United States Ships Cancellation Society and the Sons of the American Revolution. He also served as a hunter safety instructor and boating safety instructor for the State of Connecticut. He was a member of the Hudson Widow's Son #7 Masonic Lodge in New York.
Henri loved to garden and especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his children, Sarah Baxter of Norwich, Richard Baxter and wife, Ruth, of Lyme; sister, Beatrice Croteau and brother in-law, Henry Croteau, of New York; aunt, Carolyn (Baxter) Duggan of New Jersey; several cousins; and step-grandchildren, Katelyn and David Sturgis.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21, at the Montville Funeral Home of Church and Allen. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Montville Funeral Home. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations in Henri Baxter's memory may be made to the Montville Senior Center or to the Visiting Nurse Asoc. of Southeastern CT, 403 N. Frontage Road, Waterford CT 06385.
Please visit the online memorial at www.mem.com.
The Montville Funeral Home of Church and Allen, 53 Rte. 32, is entrusted with arrangements.