JoAnn Baker

Mary JoAnn McClelland Baker, age 93, of Williamsburg, Virginia passed away on Saturday, December 21, 2024. She was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on March 31, 1931. JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Horne McClelland and Mary Lucinda Smucker McClelland; brothers, Robert McClelland and Dean McClelland and his wife, Shirley; as well as her son, Robert Keith Baker.

JoAnn graduated from Johnstown High School in 1949. Throughout her early life, she was active in Girl Scouts and church activities, including choir. In 1953, JoAnn graduated from Grove City College with a BA in History. She was also the Vice President of the Theta Alpha Pi Sorority.

On August 15, 1953, JoAnn was married to Robert Wade Baker at the Grove Avenue Methodist Church in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

After JoAnn was married and while her husband, Bob, was serving in the military in Germany, she attended the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earning her Elementary School Teaching Certification for grades K-6. She went on to teach elementary school in Cleveland, Ohio, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. She was also a Sunday School teacher, and for eight years, she directed 3 Hand Bell Choirs: the Adult, High School (Carilloneurs), and Children’s Hand Bell Choirs at Grace United Methodist Church in Natrona Heights. She enjoyed membership with the Eastern Star, Book Club, and the Garden Club.

After moving to Williamsburg, Virginia she continued to ring in the bell choir at Williamsburg Methodist Church for 15 years. She stayed active in the church and volunteered for the Colonial Williamsburg Library for 30 years.

JoAnn is survived by her husband of 71 ½ years, Robert Wade Baker; daughter, Kathryn Ann Baker Foote (Dale); daughter-in-law, Eleanor Baker; brother-in-law, Frank W. Baker (Miriam); and grandchildren, Wade Baker, Nick Baker, Casey Baker, and Marciane Foote.

JoAnn always had the time to listen to others, and will be remembered as a very kind and loving religious person, who loved to knit, weave, sew, paint, do puzzles, and ceramics. She will be deeply missed by all her friends and family.

A visitation for JoAnn will be held Saturday, December 28, 2024 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, Virginia 23188.

Whenever you see a hummingbird, you’ll know JoAnn is nearby.