June 30, 1926 - Nov. 22, 2009

ELKHART -- Dorothy Ellen Baker, 83, of Elkhart, died at 7:05 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 22, 2009) in her home.

She was born June 30, 1926, in Etna Green to Orris and Artie (Hauck) Baker.

Ms. Baker is survived by one son, Frederick E. Baker of Elkhart; three sisters, Legene (Doyle) Smith and Doris (Sam) Guy, both of Warsaw, and Elnora (Loran) Young of Nappanee; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and her caregivers, Cindy Fisher and Julie Wright, both of Elkhart.

Ms. Baker worked at Excel Industries for more than 25 years and at Accra Pac Industries (now KIK) until retiring in the early 1990s; both are in Elkhart. She went on to work at McDonald's on C.R. 17 and as a waitress at the Elkhart DAV Chapter 19, where she was a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary. She loved to play bingo with her son and grandson, and listen to bands at the DAV. She was a 1945 graduate of Etna Green Township High School.

Friends may call from noon until the 2 p.m. funeral service Monday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Pastor Nathan Breneman of Northside Baptist Church, Elkhart, will officiate. Burial will follow in Rice Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, South Bend.