Zane Wesley Baker

Zane W. Baker

May 31, 1929-August 23, 2026

Zane Wesley Baker, age 97, died Sunday, August 23, at Springfield Masonic Community following a short illness.

He was born May 31, 1929, in Hornell, N.Y., the son of Charles W. and Grace M. (Baker) Baker. A 1948 graduate of Hornell High School, Zane married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn June Woolever, also of Hornell, on August 28, 1949.

Zane spent most of his career working as a claim agent, first for the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad and then for Conrail. After he retired, he and his wife moved first to Murphy, N.C., then to Somerset, Ky., before moving to Springfield to be closer to their sons. They lived in Villa Run before moving to SMC in 2022.

Zane enjoyed creating marquetry pictures. He was known among his friends and the staff at Cunningham Place for his teasing sense of humor, generous spirit, daily Bible study, puzzles and a well-stocked candy drawer. He was a member of Southgate Baptist Church and especially enjoyed the Senior Sunday School class while he was able to attend.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ralph Baker, sister Sarah Strickland and his wife.

He is survived by sons James Wesley (Rebecca) Baker of Springfield and Thomas Clair (Susan) Baker of Fort Wayne, Ind., eight grandchildren (Vanessa, Michael (Karen), Nathaniel (Hayley), David (Liz), Katie (Josh) Hufford, Daniel (Andrea), Elizabeth (Jordan) Ryan and MaryGrace (Tom) Brown), 26 great-grandchildren (Jada (Graham) Lyndaker, Lydia, Josiah, Micah, Zane, Lumen, Griffin, Reagan, Gibson, Luke, Penny, Lason, Colette, Briggs, Ezekiel, Titus, Obadiah, Annie Mae, Avery, Zane, Lagodian, Judah, Noah, Isabella, Analisa and Isaiah), two great grand-children (Henry and Edmund), and nieces Sandy Strickland DePastena of Alabama and Robin Peck Bedson of Virginia.

The family would like to thank his faithful friends from Southgate Baptist Church and all of his nurses, aides, cleaning staff and cooks at SMC for their love and care of Zane.

Family and friends will be received on Friday, September 4, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Jackson Lytle & Lewis Life Celebration Center, Springfield. The funeral service will begin at noon, officiated by Pastor Jeremy Willetts. Private burial will be at Ferncliff Cemetery & Arboretum.