Guest speakers Scott Anger, Greene County sheriff, and David Hayes, Greene County prosecuting attorney, spoke to those present about fraud prevention.
Submitted photos | Greene County Retired Teachers Association
Lois Baxter, pictured with Virginia Pinkerton, was the featured retired teacher during the association’s spring quarter meeting.
XENIA — The Greene County Retired Teachers Association recently held its spring quarter meeting.
Guest speakers were Sheriff Scott Anger and Prosecuting Attorney David Hayes, who spoke about fraud prevention. One in 10 people in Ohio report fraud, but because of embarrassment, those numbers are low, and fraud is under-reported they shared. Many scams are committed by multi-national and international criminals. Categories of fraud discussed by Anger and Hayes were: Unsolicited communication; request for money to be sent in odd ways, such as gift cards; sweepstakes and lottery scams; grandparent scams; romance scams that are only online; and charity scams (research the charities yourself and check references).
The retired teacher spotlight shone on Lois Baxter, the third of seven children born to Robert and Roberta Ager of Marion, Alabama, the same town where Martin Luther King Jr., lived as a child. Following high school graduation, Baxter attended college in Huntsville, Alabama, where she met her future husband, Reuben Baxter. She graduated in 1956 and began to teach second grade in Alabama. Reuben by that time was in Ohio, in the printing shop at Central State in Wilberforce, where he would later become head of that shop. The Baxters were married in 1958 and settled in Wilberforce, later moving to Xenia. Lois worked as a proofreader at Central State and later at the Central State Library for 11 years while she raised their four children. Lois began teaching second grade again at Spring Hill, also teaching fourth and fifth grades as well throughout her career. Lois loved the children in her classes, and she loved teaching.
In 1975, Reuben was killed in an auto accident on Stevenson Road, leaving Lois with four children ages eight to 16. A determined Lois made it through. In 2000 Lois decided to retire from teaching after 36 years teaching in two states.
Baxter is immensely proud of her children. Reginald was a teacher and coach in Xenia for many years. He attended Central State and Ohio State University and he worked at the board office. Eric also graduated from Central State, worked in Indiana for some time, and now lives in Xenia with his mom and works in this area. Gina lives in West Chester, and Lori lives in Tennessee. They also graduated from Central State. In recent years, before COVID, Lois was active in the Zion Baptist Church and over the years, she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school.
Virginia Pinkerton, who interviews GCRTA members for the retired teacher spotlight, walked into Baxter’s home as a stranger but left with an apple fritter for her husband, cookies, a bag full of various kinds of chocolate, and many warm memories of a loving woman.
Area high school winners of the 2023 GCRTA scholarships were Robert Banks and Holly Campbell.
The next GCRTA luncheon/meeting will be at 11:30 a.m., Aug. 23 at Xenia United Presbyterian Church, 343 Ankeney Mill Road. All retired educators having worked in or living in Greene County are welcome to join. If you have any questions, call Linda Sesslar, membership chair, at 937-371-3116. Prospective members are entitled to a free lunch to get acquainted with the group.
