Barbara Stafford Baker

Barbara Stafford Baker, 81, of Anderson, Indiana, passed away early Saturday morning, March 14, 2026, at the Trustbridge Jupiter Pavilion Care Center in Jupiter, Florida. Born on October 2, 1944, in Vivian, Louisiana, she was the daughter of the late Reverend Daniel and Edna (Mann) Stafford.

For nearly 20 years, Barbara courageously battled Parkinson’s disease with remarkable grace. Even through a broken neck and hospice care, her consistent response to others remained, “Blessed of the Lord!” On August 31, 1965, she married the love of her life, John Mark Baker, in Oklahoma City. The following year she graduated from Bethany Nazarene College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, beginning a lifelong commitment to teaching and ministering to children.

Barbara taught in Christian schools, public schools, and through homeschooling, which allowed her to invest deeply in the lives of young people. Beginning in 1969, she and John spent 45 summers traveling across the United States, the Cayman Islands, and Canada, conducting Vacation Bible Schools in churches in 21 states. She was also actively involved in bus ministry at Grace Holiness Church in Anderson, faithfully bringing children to church and sharing the gospel with them. Even in her final days, she continued to express love and concern for her “bus kids.” Her heart of gold was evident in her careful attention to Scripture, her patient work with children at Appalachian Youth Camp, and her constant desire to honor and serve Jesus in both word and deed. Above all, she prayed that she and her family would live faithfully for the Lord.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, John Mark Baker; her three sons, John Mark Baker II (MaryLee) of Anderson, Aaron (Katrina) Baker of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Jason (Regina) Baker of Greenville, Ohio; her grandchildren, Kristen (David) Sterner of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Tyler (Hailey) Baker of Davison, Michigan, Everlee Baker of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Constance (Zach) Ohmes and Maverick Baker, both of Anderson, and Rylee, Jayden, and Lincoln Baker of Greenville, Ohio; three great-grandchildren, Levi, David, and Carter Sterner; two brothers, Jim (Charol) Stafford of Houston, Texas, and David (Jackie) Stafford of Bethany, Oklahoma; a brother-in-law, Jim Smith of Bethany, Oklahoma; a sister-in-law, Bobbye Stafford McElrath of Plano, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Patricia Smith, and her brother Robert Stafford.