Carol A. Baker RN, Ph.D.

Carol Ann Baker, 88, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, died Thursday, April 24, 2025. Carol was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1936. She was the oldest daughter of Harvey Kowatch and Clara Atkinson and lived the entirety of her childhood in Bay Village, Ohio.

Carol attended The Ohio State University School of Nursing upon graduating from Bay High and fell in love with the University, the surrounding city, and a young man named John L. Baker. They were married in 1959 shortly after Carol earned her Bachelor's degree and began work as a staff nurse. She would later earn her Master’s from OSU and her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, and become a professor and lecturer at OSU, where she retired with Emeritus status.

Carol felt blessed to have been surrounded throughout her college and professional life by an extremely tight-knit group of fellow nurses and close friends…whose life-long association with our family was a consistent source of joy and support. Also, in the 70’s, the building of a “cabin” in the woods of Dubois, PA, was treasured as a retreat and provided the backdrop for hundreds of gatherings and thousands of memories.

Carol loved being a nurse, caring and providing service to others, which she continued after retirement coordinating and serving Monday Meals to Friends of the Homeless, a support mission of First Community Church. After retirement, in her 60’s, Carol took up golf and discovered a huge passion for downhill skiing. Carol enjoyed both domestic and foreign travel with John, and later with close friends. Several individual trips were made with Joan Sprinkle and Marilyn Loxley.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, John L. Baker, in 2006. She is survived by her sister Sally (Mark) Reed, her sister-in-law Carol (Robert) Aikin, her son, John P. Baker, her daughter Elizabeth (Peter) Colburn and grandchildren Jordan and Jessica Baker, and Benjiman and Jason Colburn.

Friends may call from 4 – 7pm Friday, May 2, 2025 at Schoedinger Northwest, 1740 Zollinger Road. Expressions of sympathy may be sent by visiting www.schoedinger.com.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to Friends of the Homeless, 924 East Main Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205 in her memory.