Luanne Baldridge, 1941-2020
Luanne Baldridge, 79 years of age, passed peacefully at home in December 2020. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, William (Bill) Baldridge—her high school sweetheart whom she married at 17 and shared an extraordinary life. She was a dedicated and loving mother to Chris and David, grandmother to Ken, John, Bob, and Grayson, and Great Grandmother to Julianne and Emmy. She was a devoted ‘big’ sister to Marilyn and Kenny and loving daughter to Robert and Mary Alice. She was an exceptional teacher, lifelong learner, and eventual Vice Principal at Seaholm High School. She graduated with honors from Parkview High School and Missouri State University and earned her master’s degree from Drake University. Her love of literature, learning, and life touched the lives of thousands. As noted by her principal, she was “the most accomplished and successful person” to hold the position of Assistant Principal. She explored the world and shared many adventures with her high school sweetheart Bill and their family, traveling to five continents and dozens of countries, including trips to the jungles of Serengeti and the Amazon, the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, the Red Square in Moscow, and Shakespeare’s and Twain’s birthplaces. She loved people, food, and family, could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere, and was a supertaster and gourmet cook who could reproduce her favorite restaurant meals to share at home with family and friends she loved dearly. Luanne lived a full, rich, and generous life and lovingly taught others to do the same. In lieu of flowers, please donate here.