Linda Jane Baker

Linda Jane Baker was born on August 26, 1949, to Ervin and Ada (Smith) Williamson in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Linda adored her parents and shared an exceptionally close relationship with her sister, Lucy, who was only 13 months younger. The family lived just four blocks away from Southwest Friendship Baptist Church and every time the doors were open, they were inside the building. A relationship with the Lord was a fundamental piece of Linda’s childhood and her faith in God served her well in her 75 years of life. The only time the family missed Sunday service was when they traveled to Tishomingo to go fishing. Linda’s father always said he felt close to God out on the lake. Those were some of Linda’s favorite memories from her childhood of which she remembered fondly.

Graduating from Capital Hill High School in 1967, Linda went to work for the phone company in Oklahoma City. Linda met Steve Humphrey the following spring and after three months the couple was married on August 9, 1968. Not long after the wedding Steve received orders from the Army and the couple moved to California where they enjoyed dancing to live music and exploring the Sunshine State. Their first child – Kenneth Humphrey – arrived on January 28, 1970. After Steve returned from Vietnam in 1971, the young family moved to Heidelberg, Germany, on orders from the Army. They spent three years overseas. In that time Linda gave birth to Amy Humphrey on October 5, 1973. Traveling was a favorite past time for Linda as she visited many different countries in her lifetime.

Linda will forever be remembered for her unwavering faith that was only ever eclipsed by her kindness. As an adult, life dealt Linda some tough hands. In 1976, Linda and her family were forced to crash land when their single-engine airplane ran out of fuel. Linda made a conscious decision to hold both her children through the crash in an effort to save their lives. Her position in the seat led to injuries that would sever her spinal cord and leave her paralyzed from the waist down. While it was a huge transition for Linda, she never let her disability define her. Family and friends remember Linda as someone who rarely complained no matter how difficult her circumstances became.

After divorcing Steve in 1979, Linda raised Kenneth and Amy on her own. Life in a wheelchair didn’t slow Linda down a bit. She worked for the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Center (OATC) for many years before reaching retirement. She loved spending time with her family and friends any chance she could. For years Linda hosted game night on Fridays with her friends for pizza and cards. Linda was an active member in every church she attended. She raised both of her kids at Soldier Creek Baptist Church where many lifelong friendships were forged.

On May 18, 1996, Linda married David Baker and the couple made their home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The pair bonded over their love for thrifting and antique shopping. They spent lots of time searching for treasures to share with others and their home became a sort of museum to display their favorite items. Linda’s main hobby was researching her family genealogy. She traced her family back several generations and recorded everything to be handed down to her kids.

There’s no doubt Linda was a proud parent but her grandchildren, and eventually great grandchildren, meant the world to her. She made a point of attending every ball game, dance recital, birthday party, awards ceremony, graduation and wedding for all three of her grandchildren. Her intentionality as a grandmother is one of her most memorable traits.

Linda passed away on May 10, 2025, surrounded by the people she loved most. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Ada Williamson. Linda is survived by her husband, David Baker; sister, Lucy (Paul) Luker; half-sister, Judy (David) Vaughan; her children, Kenneth (Julie) Humphrey, and Amy Humphrey; her husband’s children, Danny (Jennifer) Baker, Delisa (Kevin) Wood; grandchildren, Emmie (Patrick) Brown, Kennedy (Lindsay) Humphrey, and Avery Stinnett; her husband’s grandchildren, McKenzie Baker, Harper Wood, Lauren (Nick) Hockey; great grandchildren, Zoey Brown, Emma Brown, Augustus Humphrey, Nate Brown and Lorelai Humphrey.

Linda’s visitation will be on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home at 4000 SE 29th Street, Del City, Oklahoma 73115.

Funeral services for Linda will be on Sunday, May 18, 2025, a 2 p.m. at Soldier Creek Baptist Church located at 9020 SE 15th Street, Midwest City, Oklahoma 73130. Burial will follow at Sunny Lane Cemetery in Del City. Serving as pallbearers are Avery Stinnett, Kennedy Humphrey, Johnny Hopkins, Danny Baker, Kevin Wood and Andrew Baker.