Mary Alice Baker

The daughter of Carl and Virginia Von Brock, Mary was born on April 29, 1941 in Belleville, Illinois. She grew up in southern Illinois near St. Louis and was a 1963 graduate of Southern Illinois University with a BS in Education. She married Col. Ronald L. Baker (Ret.) in 1961 and they were together for 58 years. As an Air Force family, they made their home in Illinois, Colorado, Spain, Maryland, and California, finally settling in Virginia in 1978.

Mary enjoyed teaching and spent many years as a substitute teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools. She was a member of Messiah United Methodist Church in Springfield, Virginia. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her children and grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoyed working in the yard, tending to her flowers and plants. Mary enjoyed traveling whenever the opportunity arose and was known as the family photographer. She spent many hours creating scrapbooks documenting her family’s adventures to treasure throughout the years.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Robert Von Brock. She is survived by her husband Ron, three children: Laurie (Warren) Carter, Michael (Diane) Baker, and Kathleen (Joseph) Walsh; six grandchildren: Stephen (Maddy) Carter, Philip (Lauren) Carter, Lauren Carter, Alex Baker, Katelyn Baker, and Lily Walsh. She is also survived by her brother, Samuel (Joann) Von Brock, sister in-law, Gloria Von Brock and many nephews and nieces.