Vera “Maxine” Baker, 83, of Wabash, formerly of Lagro, Indiana, died at 11:56 pm, Sunday, February 16, 2020 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. She was born July 27, 1936 in Marianna, Arkansas to William Franklin and Mollie Belle (Oxner) James.
Maxine married Ronald L. Baker in Las Cruces, New Mexico on April 27, 1954; he died March 4, 2005. She was the Clerk-Treasurer for the Town of Lagro, retiring after 38 years. Maxine was a member of the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, The National Association of Clerk-Treasurers, Wabash County Republican Women’s Club, and vice chairman of the Lagro Precinct No. 2. She was a member of the Century Club, a 61 year member of the Lagro American Legion Auxiliary, previously she also served for more than 25 years as secretary of the Wabash County Area Five Council on Aging. Maxine also served as the Treasurer for the Metro/Lagro Summer Baseball League and financial officer for the Lagro Good Ole Days Festival Committee. She was awarded the 2007 Clerk-Treasurer of the Year award from the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water during its annual conference in Bloomington. She enjoyed volunteering at the local community center, spending time with her family, reading, solving crossword and sudoku puzzles, knitting, crocheting, scrap-booking, and making holiday treats for family and friends.
She is survived by three children, Ron Baker of Casa Grande, Arizona, Rick Baker of Wabash, and Robbi (Jeff) LaSalle of Peru, Indiana, seven grandchildren, Brent (Allison) Baker of New Palestine, Indiana, Ryan (Gina) Baker of Wabash, Calen Baker of Bloomington, Indiana, Gerad (Esperanza) Baker of Casa Grande, Arizona, Justin Baker of Houma, Louisiana, Megan (Chris) Prater of Martinsville, Indiana, and Mandy Buttry of Bloomington, 8 great grandchildren, three sisters, Sybil (Mike) New of Bloomfield, Indiana, Gracie (Charles) Bohall of Owensburg, Indiana, and Annie (Jeff) Ross of Wabash, and her sister-in-law, Rose Thayer of Bloomington. She was also preceded in death by her parents, son, Rory Baker who died in 1966, and her brother, Roy Van James.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Sunday, February 23, 2020 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Pastor Tim Prater officiating. Friends may call 3-8 pm Saturday, at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Lagro Canal Foundation Fund c/o Community Foundation of Wabash County.
The memorial guest book for Maxine may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.