Isabelle Baker

Isabelle Baker passed on to her reward at 12:35 am on September 21.  She was born July 12, 1925 in a log cabin along the Flat Rock River in southern Shelby County Indiana. Experiencing the Great Depression and World War II in her early life, she grew up very poor but sought to follow the legacy of generosity and graciousness of her parents, Ralph and Nettie (Truex) Hill. She was preceded in death by four siblings: Ivan “Danny” Hill, Mamie Hill Bennett, Harold Hill, and Patricia Hill Reed.  Visitation and memorial will be held October 7 at Freeman Family Funeral Home, 819 South Harrison, Shelbyville beginning at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. respectively.

She was a graduate of the 1944 Mt. Auburn High School class.  The first in the family to leave the farm and go to the big city, Indianapolis, she enrolled in nursing school at the Methodist Hospital, graduating in 1947.  That same year on a blind date she met Raymond Baker, an engineer with Allison’s. After five years of dating, they married on May 26, 1952 and had four children: Virginia, Bill, Elizabeth (Tony Macaluso) and John (Karen Sue). Isabelle was preceded in death by her daughter Virginia in 1972 at age 18; husband Ray in 1978 at age 59; and son Bill in 1995 at age 39. Virginia’s death of incurable cancer was especially sorrowful to the family. The family could not understand how God could take one so young with a life full of promise.

In the 1980s Isabelle found comfort in our Lord’s prayer, that God’s kingdom would come on earth and His will eventually would be done by all on earth as it is now done in heaven. She realized that Christ would call forth Virginia and others from the tomb during the Judgment Day, that their lives were not lived in vain. The earth will be restored to Edenic paradise, with all people living harmoniously, appreciating the home God created for them.  Isabelle’s hope was to be part of the heavenly kingdom with Christ showering blessings on all people when God wipes away the tears from every eye, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Revelation 21:3-4.

Isabelle retired from nursing in 1992 after working at the Methodist, the Lilly diabetic ward, hospitals in Hamilton Ohio, Connersville Indiana and at Shelbyville’s Major Hospital.  She loved nursing and helping her patients!

In later years, Isabelle’s health declined as she suffered from slow onset dementia. She is a wonderful example of cheerful patient endurance, devoted service, persistent witness, and love of God and Jesus. She often said that the Lord knew just what experiences she needed, whether suffering or blessing. Her sweet, uncomplaining acquiescence to the difficulties of life is inspiring.