Barbara “Barb” Anne Baker, 89, of Lynchburg, VA and Plant City FL, died April 30, 2023. She died at home, as was her wish.
Born February 3, 1934, in Petersburg, TN, she graduated from Fort Myers High School and shortly thereafter moved to California to marry her high school sweetheart. She and Ronald Hugh Baker remained married until his death in 2011.
She was the mother of Curt Baker of Lynchburg, Lincoln Baker (Dori) of Lynchburg, and Ronda Schultze (Arnold) of Plant City, FL.
She was a loving homemaker and devoted mother. In early years, she was active as a Cub Scout leader, PTA volunteer, and a member of the Open Door Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church of Plant City. She worked at Jackson Elementary School when her children were students there and later worked at Hillsborough Community College School of Nursing, South Florida Baptist Hospital, and for Dr. Brewer and Dr. Saranko, all in Plant City, Florida. She later volunteered weekly at the Alan B. Pearson Cancer Center in Lynchburg.
Later in life she and her husband, Ron, moved to Altavista and later Lynchburg to be near family. They were active at Lane Memorial United Methodist Church in Altavista, and she later attended Peakland United Methodist Church.
In addition to her children, she is survived by five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Jill (Geo) Ritenauer of Valrico FL, Chris (Heather) Pippin of Lithia FL, Erin Baker of Los Angeles CA, Olivia Baker of San Francisco CA, and Phoebe Baker of Lynchburg. Her great-grandchildren are Mason and Maddox Ritenauer and Emily Pippin.
Her life will be celebrated in a private ceremony for family.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.