Bluefield, WV –
Suzanne Travers Baker 80
of 900 Pearl Street Ext. Bluefield, WV died Tuesday May 30, 2006 at Lewis-Gale
Hospital, Salem, VA.
She was born in Buffalo,
NY on August 7, 1925 to Jeremiah P. Travers and Alice Willson Kemp Travers. She
was the granddaughter of Clarence May Kemp, the inventor of Solar Heating and
founder of C. M. Kemp Mfg. Co. of Baltimore, MD.
Educated in Baltimore,
MD schools, she graduated from Girl’s Latin H.S. in 1944; furthering her
education at Edgewood Park Junior College, Briarcliff Manor, NY. Her formal
education ended on V-J Day, August 15, 1945, when she became the bride of 2nd.
Lt. Edward S. Baker, Jr., USMC. For 23 years, she was a stalwart Marine wife,
subjected to her husband’s many absences, yet successfully raising her three
children.
Not having been allowed
to travel overseas while her husband was on active duty, she began her travels
in 1976 by going to Hawaii, Japan, South Korea, Okinawa, Taiwan and the
Philippines. Then in 1983 she rented their Florida home for one year and spent
71/2 months in Europe. Beginning with 16 days in Glyfada, Greece, they flew to
Cairo for a 2-week tour of Egypt. Flying back to Spain, they purchased a Fiat
and drove through 16 countries getting back to Bluefield in time to greet a new
granddaughter, Martha Shott.
A former member of the
D.A.R. and the Daughters of the War of 1812, she concentrated on her family,
participating in the First Presbyterian Church, the East River Mountain Garden
Club, the McGuffy Book Club and the Bluefield Fine Arts Commission.
In addition to her
parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Jerry and a grandson Jeffrey
Shott.
Survivors include her
loving husband of over 60 years, Col. Edward S. Baker, Jr., USMC ret., two sons;
Edward of Glenville, NY, Jonathan of Deerfield Beach, FL, and a daughter
Katherine Shott of Bluefield and eight grandchildren.
Memorial services will
be conducted Saturday June 3, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church,
Bluefield, WV with Dr. W. D. Hasty, Jr. officiating.
In lieu of flowers,
memorial contributions may be made to the Bluefield Fine Arts Commission, the
East River Mountain Garden Club, or First Presbyterian Church.
Those wishing to share
memories or condolence messages online, may do so by visiting
www.mercerfuneralhome.com
Mercer Funeral Home &
Crematory of Bluefield is assisting the Baker family with arrangements. |
