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Ruth Evelyn Baker

Ruth Evelyn Baker, 98, of Huntington, IN, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at 8:24 a.m. at The Heritage of Huntington.

Mrs. Baker moved to Huntington in 1936 before her senior year of high school.  She attended Huntington College and acquired her elementary education teaching certificate. She then taught first grade in Wren, OH.  The family moved frequently as her husband was a United States Navy pilot in World War II.  She and her husband accepted the call to missions in 1949 and moved to Sierra Leone, West Africa, with their sons. First stationed at Bonthe, Mrs. Baker was the head matron at Minnie Mull Girls' School.  They were later stationed in Gbangbaia, then Mattru, and later Bumpe.  The family returned to the United States in 1965 while her husband served as Huntington College president from 1965 to 1981.

Mrs. Baker was a member of College Park United Brethren Church, Women’s Missionary Society, Huntington College Ladies Auxiliary and Garden Club.  She played piano for Rotary Club and at local nursing homes.

She was born Dec. 7, 1918, in Ossian to Lawrence Arnold and Nellie May Confer Middaugh. She married Earl DeWitt Baker on Aug. 16, 1942, and he preceded her in death in May 2000.

Survivors include a son, Ronald Paul (Jane) Baker, of Berrien Springs, MI; two daughters, Joyce Evelyn (Tom) Hewitt, of Brazil, and Annette Marie (Dan) Shepherdson, of Longwood, FL; 10 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
 
Calling is Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Deal-Rice Funeral Home - Huntington Chapel, 338 E. Washington St., and on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at College Park United Brethren Church, 1945 College Ave., Huntington. A funeral service will follow immediately after calling, with Rev. Gary Dilley officiating.  Burial will be Saturday at 3 p.m. in Bankers Cemetery, 7263 Bankers Rd., Hillsdale, MI.
 
Memorials are to Huntington University or United Brethren in Christ Global Missions - designated to Mattru Hospital, in care of Deal-Rice Funeral Home, 338 E. Washington St., Huntington, IN 46750.
 
Online condolences may be made at dealricefuneralhomes.com.