Donna Baltz

Donna Garverich Baltz, age 88, departed this life on January 13, 2021. A true woman of faith who devoted her life to her family and to helping others, she was born April 12, 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Ross and Edna Forrest Garverich. After graduating from the Washington School for Secretaries, she had a very active secretarial career, including sixteen years with the Agency for International Development, the foreign aid branch of the U.S. State Department. Her postings included Laos, the Philippines, Uganda, Korea, Ethiopia, and Washington, D.C. Her time in Uganda and Ethiopia included trips to the wild animal parks in East Africa, which ranked among her favorite places. Donna loved to travel, visiting 18 foreign countries and most of the states in the U.S., making friends around the world. She was well-known for her warm and loving hugs.

Donna was active in the local Methodist church wherever she lived. At the time of her death, she was a member of First United Methodist Church of Mountain Home, Arkansas, and had served for years as a member and an officer of the United Methodist Women. She also volunteered with the Baxter Regional Medical Center auxiliary for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her stepparents, Howard and Gertie Edleman.

She leaves behind her husband of 42 years, Dickey L. Baltz of Waterloo, IL; beloved brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Eve Garverich of Littleton, Colorado; step-daughters and sons-in-law, Anne and Dave Rodrick of Spartanburg, SC, Susan and Steve Hibbits of Columbia, IL, and Jane and Dave Hokeness of Mequon, WI; five grandchildren, to whom she was a beloved Nana; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews who adored their Aunt Donna.

She will be interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. A memorial service at First United Methodist Church of Mountain Home, for both Dick and Donna, will take place June 26, 2021 at 10:00 am.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Mountain Home or the Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation.

Arrangements are by Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com .