Ms. Ruth M. Baker, 88, of Panama City, Fla., passed away Friday, August 16, 2019, from congestive heart failure. She was born in Elizabethton, Tenn., and had been a resident of Panama City since 1972. She was an active and founding member of Eastside Christian Church where she had taught Sunday School and was involved in the Ladies Church Group. She retired from the Bay County School System where she had been a “lunchroom lady” for 21 years. She volunteered at Bay Medical Center as a “pink lady” and packed backpacks for children at Callaway Elementary School. She was known by many as a caring, compassionate, kind “Christian Lady” who set the example for others in Loving one another! She (Granny Ruth) also never missed an opportunity to share the gospel of Christ and invite others to attend church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Chief Master Sergeant Charles A. Baker, a retired U.S. Air Force disabled veteran. They both were proud supporters of our U.S. military and its Veterans. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Bobby Lynn Matherly, and son, John Allen Baker.
She is survived by her son, Mark Baker, and daughter-in-law, Summer of Naples, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Reena Baker of Panama City, Fla.; grandchildren, Roger Matherly (Nancy), Billy Matherly (Stephanie) of Elizabethton, Tenn., Gary Baker (Susan) of Senoia, Ga., Lauren Baker (mom Gale) of Panama City, Jay Goss (Stephanie) of Panama City, Hunter and Savannah Baker of Naples, Fla., and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 22, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jeff Thompson officiating. Interment will follow at Forrest Lawn Cemetery. Asked to serve as pallbearers are Tom Schroyer, Robert Doyle, Henry Mishoe, (also asked to speak,) Butch Blanks, Don Barlow, Ronnie Chappell and Jimmy (Pastor, Eastside Christian Church). The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 21. The family would like to thank Covenant Hospice of Panama City. Their entire staff has been fantastic in every aspect, Dr. Bruce Josten and Hashem Mubarak and staffs for all their never ending care, and last but certainly not least, Don and Tonette Barlow, Ronnie and Sue Chappell, Henry and Marie Mishoe, Butch and Cecelia Blanks, Reena Baker and Patricia Bland for their selfless act of caring for their neighbor, friend and loved one in her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Covenant Hospice or Eastside Christian Church in her honor. Expressions of sympathy may be submitted or viewed online at www.kentforestlawn.com.
Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 2403 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL 32405; (850) 763-4694.