Marion T. Baker

Marion Toomey Baker passed peacefully in her sleep on February 24th, having received last rites from her priest. Born Marion Cecilia Toomey on August 16, 1915 in Washington, DC, to James A. Toomey and Marion C. Caraher, she had one brother, James C. Toomey, and one sister Helen T. Ingoldsby, both deceased. When Marion graduated high school, she won a writing prize that gave her a scholarship to the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University, passing the bar in the District of Colombia when she was 20 years old. During the war years, she worked for Hugh Fulton investigating war profiteers for the Truman Committee, earning several letters of commendation from Sen. Truman. She married Raymond E. Baker in 1948 and had five children, settling down in Lynchburg, VA.

In 1974, Marion returned to the law, working for the Virginia Legal Aid Society. In 1994, her 20 years of volunteer service earned her the Lewis F. Powell, Jr., Pro Bono Award, for handling approximately 1,100 cases defending hundreds of women and children in every kind of family law. In her many years in Lynchburg, she was involved in causes that mattered to her, working at the League of Women Voters, participating in Meals on Wheels and volunteering to read to patients in hospitals. She traveled to San Francisco with longtime friend, Natalie Cooper, where she was a delegate to the 1984 Democratic Convention, proudly voting for Geraldine Ferraro as the first woman on a National Presidential ticket.

Marion is survived by her son, Gregory Baker, his wife, Kay Baker, of Harrisonburg, VA, and grandchildren, Lottie Baker, Tristan Baker, Chloe Jerlinski and her husband, Jared Jerlinski, Arlo Baker, Lucy Baker, and great-grandchild, Camille Caraher Jerlinski; by her daughter, Lisa Horner, her husband, Edward Horner, of Kitty Hawk, NC, and grandchildren, Neala Jacobs, her husband Ben Jacobs, and Austin Horner; and by her son, Dylan Baker, his wife, Becky Baker, of New York, NY, and grandchild, Willa Baker.

Marion was a survivor, staying strong for her children after losing her second born, Danny, in a tragic accident as a toddler, her first born, Kevin, when he was 21 years old in a car accident, and her husband, Ray, who succumbed to cancer in 1983. Marion moved to New York City in 1997, where she continued her love of education at the New School, taking courses for retired professionals. In 2013, she took up residence at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, VA, and Marion’s family would like to specially thank the good people at the VMRC for their excellent care.

There will be a viewing at the Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg on Friday from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, and a funeral mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Saturday at 11 am, Rev. Msgr. J. Kenneth Rush officiating. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family asks to consider that donations be made to Meals on Wheels, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Virginia Legal Aid Society, or Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences, please visit obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.