Rita Marie Baxendale, 83 of Valparaiso and formerly of Gibralter, MI and Springfield, OH, passed away Sunday, October 12, 2025. She was born on February 6, 1942 in Springfield, Ohio, the daughter of Raymond J. and Jeanne (Dee) Brennan. Rita attended Wittenberg University and made her career with Ford Motor Assembly in Detroit, MI, where she worked as an inventory control manager and retired as a personnel specialist. She was a former member of the Northwood Hills Country Club and Urbana Country Club in Ohio. Rita loved children and coordinated the latch key program for over 5 years at St. Theresa’s, St. Bernard’s, and Catholic Central in Springfield, Ohio. She enjoyed 15 years of winters spent in Punta Gorda, Florida with her husband, Toby and she loved her puppy, Dusty.
Rita is survived by her loving husband, Harold F. “Toby” Baxendale; children, Valerie Baxendale and Harold F. “Hal” Baxendale; former son-in-law, Sam Raich III; former daughter-in-law, Meenu Baxendale; grandchildren, Sam (Dana) Raich IV, Alec (Emily) Raich, Simran Baxendale, and Sitara Baxendale; great granddaughter, Margo Joy Raich; siblings, Tom (Ann) Brennan, Kathleen Blazis, Julie (Rich) Comchoc, Tim (Christine) Brennan, Kevin (Karen) Brennan, and Debbie (Mike) Chapman; sister-in-law, Kathleen Brennan; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Bill and Terry Brennan; nephew, Sean Brennan; and sister-in-law, Bobbie Brennan.
A Memorial Gathering will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 from 2:00-3:00 PM at Moeller Funeral Home 104 Roosevelt Rd., Valparaiso, with a Memorial Service beginning at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
