Gladys (Sanford) Baker

Gladys Elaine (Sanford) Baker

Gladys was born on May 6th, 1930, in Wayne County, Michigan to Samuel Roscoe and Ruth Muriel (Link) Sanford. She was a graduate of Defiance High School in 1948.  In 1949, she met, and married, the love of her life.  Gladys married Bob Baker on January 8, 1950, in St. Stephen Lutheran Church South Ridge – Defiance, Ohio.  To that union she added 8 children.  Nancy (Dan) Gerken; Luke (Kim) Baker; Beverly (James) Junge; Samuel (Nancy) Baker; Timothy Baker; Stephen (Paula Moore) Baker; Philip (Rolande) Baker and Amy Dimmer.

God and Gladys’ family came first in her life.  She was a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church for 72 years and a member of its LWML and a former Sunday school teacher. She was active as a 4-H advisor while her children were in 4-H. Gladys was a homemaker and farm wife her entire life and worked as a CNA for 10 years at the nursing home in Holgate, Ohio. Gladys is remembered for her kind heart and words to everyone she met. She made every child and grandchild feel like they were her “favorite”.  Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her parents, 7 siblings, her son Stephen, and son-in-law James.  She is survived by her 7 children, 17 grandchildren, 28 great- grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received in the Zachrich Family Funeral Home, 114 William Street, Holgate on Wednesday from 4-8:00 pm and again 1 hour prior to the church service.  We will be celebrating the life of Gladys on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 11:00 am in St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Defiance with Reverend Logan Scheiwe officiating.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Hospice of Putnam County or St. Stephen Lutheran Church.  Please visit ZachrichFuneralHome.com to leave online condolences.

Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.