Isabel Baker

She worked at Martin Company during WW2 where bombers were made for the war effort. Following the war, she became secretary to the Dean of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University where she met Wilfred (Bill) Baker, a graduate student and teaching assistant. They married in 1948. She was able to balance raising a growing family while Bill traveled extensively for his job at Aberdeen Proving Ground. She played the piano and did beautiful needlework. She supported Bill by typing his dissertation. Isabel loved to read and passed that love to her children. Family visits to the library were frequent and treasured. The family library visits were featured in the Baltimore Sun.

She moved to San Antonio in 1964, when Bill accepted a job at Southwest Research Institute.

Following Bill’s retirement, they opened Wilfred Baker Engineering in 1984. Isabel was the entire administrative department in the early years of the company. She kept the books – hand ledgers – and did all the banking and invoicing. She had to learn it all. She kept the company solid, running with everything on a cash management system, which worked well as the company experienced unexpected fast growth. She stayed with the company following Bill’s death under the leadership of her son Quentin Baker and with the company transformation to Baker Engineering and Risk Consultants.

Isabel loved travel and she and Bill visited China, Israel, most of Europe, and Scandinavia.

She is preceded in death by her husband Wilfred E Baker and daughter Cecilia Jeanne Baker. She is survived by daughters Isabel Baker Kerr, Kathleen Baker Pittman, Barbara MacArthur and husband Ike MacArthur, and Lesley Claire Baker and by sons Wilfred Baker Jr and wife Karen, and Quentin Baker and wife Jana. Isabel had 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Isabel was able to live out her life in her home with support of care providers, to whom the family is very grateful.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsetfuneralhomesa.com for the Baker family.