Roderick & Alzina (Burditt) Baker
Portrait from their gravestone, Wilmore Cemetery, Comanche County, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Bobbi Hackney Huck.Services were held for Roderick Henry Baker on June 11, 1990 at the Wilmore Federated Church with Rev. Lloyd Swindler officiating. Burial was in Wilmore cemetery.
He was born Jan. 24, 1909 at Coldwater to Llewellyn Edward and Catherine Elizabeth Roderick Baker. He died June 8, 1990 at Minneola. A lifetime resident of the Wilmore area, he was a retired mechanic and owner of Baker Oil Company of Wilmore for more than 30 years.
Roderick was a member of Wilmore Federated Church and a past member of Wilmore Lions Club. He was a volunteer fireman in Wilmore many years. He really enjoyed helping people.
On May 23, 1931 he married Alzina G. Burditt at Coldwater. In May 1981 they enjoyed such a grand day with family and friends celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary. This year marked their 59th anniversary together.
Rod and Alzina reared three daughters: Nita Lou Schmidt of Minneola; Iris Yvonne Smith of Salina, Okla., Ruth Ann Baker of Chapel Hill, N. C.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Nicholas, and is survived by his wife, Alzina, their three daughters, and one brother, Edward, of Wilmore. His seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren were dear to his heart.
Always his favorite leisure pastime has been fishing, sitting on the bank of Mule Creek or fishing from his boat on a lake. He was always willing to use his boat to evacuate folks when Old Mule Creek kicked from its banks.
Three separate times he left Wilmore to attend college at Winfield, working in Wichita and Seminole, Okla.; to take his young family to Idaho and Oregon for a year; to spend a year working in Pratt. Always he returned to Wilmore.
Since Nov. 6, 1989, ill health necessitated his stay away from Wilmore. He and Alzina have lived in Minneola where their three daughters have helped care for him. Again he has come home to Wilmore.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
This website is being created by Jerry Ferrin, who has always adored and respected Alzina Baker, with the able assistance of many Contributors. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Please sign the Guest Book. This page was last updated 10 March 2006.
