DOROTHY BAKER

BAKER, DOROTHY

MARIA KOMP, 78

Gainesville - Dorothy "Dot" Maria Komp Baker of Gainesville died unexpectedly in her home Saturday. She was 78.

Dot was born in Georgetown, Ind. Feb. 12, 1934. The daughter of a Baptist minister, the family moved several times, eventually settling in Upstate New York, where she met her future husband, Philip Baker, who lived just around the corner from her family.

Dot and Phil were married on Valentine's Day 1954, and they would raise three children as they moved up and down the East Coast, following Phil's work as a contractor, while Dotty worked full-time as a wife and mother. They first moved to Gainesville in 1964, when Phil was the construction superintendent for the V.A. hospital. They fell in love with the city and returned in 1971 when they retired and have lived in a home Phil built on Newnan's Lake since 1980.

Dot was an avid genealogist who used to tell her friends that she loved her family, both living and dead. She was also a quilter and was famous for her love of anything chocolate. Friends and family often talked of her infectious laugh that could fill a room.

Dot was a member of Civitan, was a long-time supporter and volunteer with LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, the Five Points of Life Foundation and Arc of Alachua County. In 1998 Dotty and Phil served as the two-person support team for the Five Points of Life bike team that pedaled coast-to-coast to raise awareness of the power and impact of lifesaving donations. As the team "mom" she cooked breakfast for the team in the morning in her motel room on a griddle.

Dot is survived by her husband Phil; daughter Amy Crease, daughter Karen Chessa; a son, Robert "Butch" Baker; five grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. She is also survived by four sisters: Grace Schutt, Mary Halstead, Virginia Duger and Marge Horn.

A celebration of Dorothy's life will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at the corporate headquarters of LifeSouth, 4039 Newberry Road, in the Var Heyl Building. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Arc of Alachua County, 3303 NW 83rd St., Gainesville, Fla. 32606.