Diane Baker Rankin, 80, died Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at Piedmont Athens Hospital surrounded by family. She was born on October 6, 1938, in Gifford, Illinois, to the late Gene Baker and Helen Waspe.
Diane met her husband, Jim, while visiting her mother in Reno, Nevada. They were married for 65 years and he preceded her in death six weeks earlier.
She worked for Shoney’s Big Boy for more than 10 years as a lead dining room trainer on the franchise team, opening more than 130 restaurants.
After moving to Athens, she retired from the restaurant business, owning and operating R&R Ranch, where she boarded horses.
Diane and Jim moved to Lake Hartwell in 2001 and were active members of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Toccoa. She enjoyed cooking, having her family visit the lake during the summer and traveling around the country in an RV with Jim and their Jack Russell terrier, Truffles.
A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Diane is survived by her son, Gene Rankin, and his wife, Patsy; daughter, Gayla Nickerson, and her husband, Nick; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Diane and Jim will be held in January.
Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
www.BernsteinFuneralHome.com
