Doris Baker
Dora Stickley Baker
Doris Dora Stickley Baker, 97, of Strasburg, VA, passed away Saturday, June 8, 2024, at The Maynard in Strasburg.
Doris was born in Fishers Hill, Virginia, in 1926 to Boyd and Ruth Rickard Stickley. Doris attended a one room school on Locust Grove Road in Fishers Hill, later attending Strasburg High School and graduating in 1943. With the encouragement of her father, Doris continued her education at Madison College in Harrisonburg and graduated in
1947 with a degree in Home Economics. She began her teaching career at Warren County High School in Front Royal, VA.
During this time, Doris met her future husband, Dunbar Jackson Baker, who worked summers on Sandy Hook farms. They wed on June 16, 1951, and relocated to Blacksburg, VA, where Jack completed his master’s program and she taught at Pulaski County High School. They moved to Mount Union, Pennsylvania, where their first child, Keith, was born. A change of jobs for Jack required another move to Womelsdorf, PA, where they settled and welcomed their second son, Larry.
Doris was a giver. Her years in Pennsylvania were filled with service to others: Cub Scout Den Mother, library volunteer, Meals-on-Wheels volunteer, Zion Lutheran Church Sunday School Teacher and bible school principal, Peach Festival chairperson, and more. While serving others was important, Doris’s heart was truly “home and family”
centered. She loved taking care of her family, vegetable gardening, sewing, cooking, working her flower beds and even upholstery. No visitor ever left her home with empty hands as something was always sent with them.
In 2001, Doris and Jack felt drawn to return to their roots in Strasburg. With family and friends surrounding them, they settled in Strasburg Station and enjoyed life together until Jack’s passing in May 2013. Doris continued to serve in Strasburg as a member of Round Hill Church of the Brethren and as a volunteer with Strasburg Museum,
Strasburg Library, Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, and as a docent at Belle Grove Plantation.
Surviving are sons W. Keith Baker and wife Joanne of Harrisonburg, VA; Larry Baker and wife Jane of Strasburg, VA; and sister-in-law Rubye Stickley of Strasburg, VA. Grandchildren are Brian Baker and wife Lauren of Houston, Texas; Janessa Baker of Harrisonburg, VA; Justin Baker and wife Meghan of Strasburg, VA; and Katie Sugay and husband Jay of Strasburg, VA. Great-grandchildren are Benjamin Baker, Zachary Baker, Carson Baker, Afton Baker, Madelyn Baker, Jackson Sugay, and Hope Sugay.
Along with her parents and husband, Doris is preceded in death by her brothers Ellsworth Stickley and Ralph Stickley and sister-in-law Gloria Stickley.
Funeral services for Mrs. Baker will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Round Hill Church of the Brethren in Toms Brook, VA, with Pastor Beverly Funkhouser officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Strasburg, VA. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Mark Stickley, Craig Stickley, Ryan Stickley, Garrett Stickley, Bill Spiker, and Brian Williams.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Round Hill Church of the Brethren, P.O. Box 85, Toms Brook, VA 22660, Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork St., #405, Winchester, VA, 22601 or Zion Lutheran Church 300 West High Street Womelsdorf, PA 19567.
The family wishes to convey its gratitude to her Strasburg Station neighbors and for the service and care provided by The Maynard, Strasburg Rescue Squad, Blue Ridge Hospice, and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.
You may sign the guestbook and submit condolences to the family online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com.
Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Doris Stickley Baker.
