Gwendolyn Lee Yoachum Baker

Gwen spent her younger years in San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated from Jefferson High School. In 1950 Gwen met Second Lieutenant Herman Lewis Baker, Jr. while he was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, and on January 23, 1951 they married in Waco, Texas. Gwen and Lewis were stationed at many USAF bases throughout the US and the world during Lewis' 20-year military career, and in 1953 while stationed at Johnson AFB near Tokyo, Japan, their first daughter Sheri was born. Their life spent together in the military was very rich and fulfilling for them both and they made many lifelong friends. Major Lewis Baker retired from the USAF in 1967 and they moved with their family to Austin, Texas to begin the next chapter of their lives.

Gwen worked for many years at the Rio Grande campus of Austin Community College. Upon retirement from ACC she spent several years traveling the world with friends to places such as England, Mexico, Central & South America, Thailand and other locales in the Far East. Gwen was a vibrant, humorous and intelligent individual who loved people, and was generous with her time and attention to everyone she met. Her hobbies included reading books on wide and varied subjects, playing bridge, cooking, gardening, and she very much enjoyed flying with Lewis in their private airplanes.

Gwen is survived by her Husband Lewis, daughter Sheri Baker Biggs and husband Dr. Bruce Turbeville of Georgetown, Texas, daughter Laurie Baker of Austin, granddaughter Denise Biggs of Austin, and many family members throughout Texas and the US. The family wishes to thank the caring staff at Texas Oncology, St. David's South Austin Hospital and Heart to Heart Hospice for their support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on Friday, May 31, 2013 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress Avenue. Graveside Service will follow at 3:00 pm at San Jose Memorial Park, 8235 Mission Road, San Antonio, Texas 78214.