Joseph Francis Baxter Jr. passed away in Stuart Florida on February 8, 2018. He was 82 years of age. Joseph was born in Boston, raised in Jamaica Plain, was raised in Jamaica Plain, graduated from Boston Latin High School and attended Northeastern University. Mr. Baxter served his country with pride in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He lived in Melrose for 34 years and in Dennis Port for 15 years during the summer and in Stuart Florida during the winter. Joseph worked as a designer & draftsman at MIT for many years and then for Draper Labs for 15 years, working on the missile guidance system for the US Government. He loved to go dancing with his wife Sylvia, hiking in the White Mountains, playing golf & tennis and enjoyed figure skating. Mr. Baxter was also a talented carpenter working on many home improvement projects during his lifetime. Joseph was the beloved husband of 54 years to Sylvia (Imbriano) Baxter. Loving father of Deborah Dodge & her husband David of Arlington and John Baxter & his wife Anne of Amesbury. Proud grandfather of Emma & Meredith Dodge and James & Charles Baxter. Caring brother of John Baxter, Frances Galvin, Dorothy Pitts, Patricia Tanner, Jeanne Lavine and the late Carol O'Day & Phillip Baxter. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be held at the Gately Funeral Home on Thursday. February 15, 2018 from 4:00-8:00PM. Funeral procession from Gately Funeral Home on Friday morning at 9:30AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Church, 770 Salem St. Malden at 10:30AM. Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Joseph's name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 9 Erie Dr, Natick, MA 01760.