Ruth W. Baker

GLENS FALLS/FORT ANN – Ruth I. (Willis) Baker, 92, of Arlington St., and 50 year resident of Fort Ann, received her wings to be with the Lord and her loving husband on January 8, 2017, at the Glens Falls Hospital.

Born on April 12, 1924, in Hudson Falls, she was the daughter of the late Howard and Susan (Hammond) Willis.

She was a graduate of Hudson Falls High School.

On Sept. 21, 1946, she married the love of her life, Donald J. Baker at the Zion Episcopal Church in Hudson Falls.  They were married for 69 years until his passing on December 14, 2015.

Ruth worked for the Union Bag and Paper Co., formerly in Hudson Falls.  She then worked many years at Fort Ann Central School as a teacher’s aide and a bus driver, driving for many years up the Hogtown Road, retiring in 1986.

She was involved with many community organizations from Boy Scouts to being a charter member of the Fort Ann Fire Auxiliary and Fort Ann Sports Booster Club, where you would see her watching many of the sports regardless if she had a member of her family playing.  The Raymond W. Harvey American Legion Post 703 Auxiliary was a very big passion of Ruth’s as she was dubbed the “Poppy Lady” because every Memorial Day Parade, you would see her giving out Poppies.  In addition to these organizations, she was also involved in the making of “The Fort Ann 300 Years Historical Book, alongside her late husband when they were both in the mid-to late 80’s.

In additions to her husband and parents, she is predeceased by: her sisters, Lillian Willis and Edith (Willis) and her husband, Silas Stockman; her brother, Charles Willis and his wife, Marion (Foster) Willis; and a granddaughter, Ashley Marie Baker.

Survivors include: her children, Thomas Baker and his wife, Deborah, and Ronald Baker and his wife, Arlene, all of Hudson Falls, Susan Allen and her husband, Gary and Nancy Carpenter and her husband, Craig, all of Fort Ann, Beverly Bruster and her husband, Michael of Glens Falls; her grandsons, James Allen, Scott (Liz) Carpenter, Brett Carpenter and Kevin (Emily) Bruster; her granddaughters, Jenny Allen (Brian) VanAmburgh, Janet Baker (Michael) Pratt and Sara Baker; her great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Renee Allen and their mother, Debra Collette, Emma and Alexis VanAmburgh and Dylan Carpenter; her step grandchildren, John and Tim Hack and Rachel Gregory; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St., Hudson Falls.

Funeral services will follow the calling hours at 6 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home with the Rev. Nacy Goff, officiating.

Following the funeral, all are welcome to a gathering at the Kingsbury Firehouse on Burgoyne Ave., in Hudson Falls.

Interment will take place at the convenience of the family at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery on Duell Rd. in the town of Stillwater.

Ruth’s family suggests that memorial donations in her memory be made to The Fort Ann Booster Club, C/O Fort Ann Central School, 1 Catherine St., Fort Ann, NY 12827.