Wanda Doris Steen Baker, age 88, passed away on Saturday, July 17, 2010. Mrs. Baker was a long time resident of Yoakum and Hochheim but had recently moved to the Laurels Assisted Living Facility in San Antonio. She was born in Yoakum on July 23, 1921 to Roy and Harriet Armitage Sunkel.
As a young woman, she worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell and loved to tell how the operators gave World War II soldiers extra time to talk to their loved ones and not charge them. In later years she was a member of the Yoakum Community Hospital Pink Ladies Auxiliary, a volunteer at Yoakum Heritage Museum and a member of Hochheim Baptist Church and Austin Street Baptist Church.
She is survived by a daughter, Susan Smith and husband Bill of Bulverde; sister, Patricia Tillman of Schertz; grandchildren, Heather Kathleen Guckian, Erin Alicia Dillard and Caitlin Elyse McFarland; great-grandchildren, Soleil Madisson Guckian, Zander Paul Guckian, Declan Ford Guckian, Leila Grace Dillard and Drue Ardyn Dillard.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Vance Steen and their infant daughter, and her husband, George William Baker.
Family visitation was from 5:30 pm. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home. The funeral service was at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home, with Rev. Dale Turner officiating. Burial will follow at Hochheim Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Frank Coward, Ross Dillard, Jason Guckian, Wesley McFarland, Don Nobles and Vance Tillman. Honorary pallbearers will be Phil Baker, Bobby Taylor, Harold Tillman and Don Wieland.
Memorial contributions may be given to Hochheim Cemetery Association, Austin Street Baptist Church, or any charity of the donor's choice.
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