Neva Alene Baker

She was born in Waltonville, IL on July 18, 1908 to Alva S and Inez Fairchild Gilbert.

She resided at Parklane West, 2 Towers Park Lane, San Antonio, TX. Neva attended grade and high school at Waltonville, IL and Southern University at Carbondale, IL, University of IL at Urbana-Champaign, and Business College at Centralia, IL.

Neva married Julius Gee Baker December 5, 1930. Their life changed in 1943 when Julius, Lt Col, USAF, volunteered for service in the Army Air Force. Neva went with Julius if possible during his 20 years of military service.

They celebrated 50 years of marriage Dec 5, 1980. Julius preceded Neva on Jan 13, 1981. Neva taught school - grades 1-10 for twenty years. During WW II she worked for Civil Service and the Internal Revenue Service. After the war she did secretarial work at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, AL, and McGuire AFB, NJ.

She studied piano and organ and attended the famous Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris, France. She also studied French while living in Paris and German while living on Rhein Main AFB, Germany. Neva's hobbies were music - piano and organ, oil painting, and various crafts.

She made elaborate Christmas handicrafts - tree skirts, table covers, and Christmas decorations.

Neva leaves a worldwide network of friends and cousin, Lt Col Retired Helen Wells - San Antonio, TX. Her sister, Anita Holloway preceded her in death - Oct 28, 1998.