Dorothy "Dolly" Bates Baker

Dolly Bates Baker of DeFuniak Springs, Florida went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 3, 2026 after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dot and Howard Bates of Ft. Walton Beach.

She was born October 4, 1938 in Winston-Salem, NC, grew up in Miami, Florida, graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia in 1960 and married that same year the love of her life, Dr. Kenneth Norton Baker. She taught French and English before their children Beth and Kenneth were born. The family moved to Ft. Walton Beach in 1965 where they resided for 32 years. They were members of First Baptist Church where she was a Sunday school teacher. She was president of the Junior League in 1973-74 and tutored children with learning problems.

The Bakers also had a home in the mountains of North Carolina for 15 years and moved to DeFuniak Springs in 1997. They loved to travel and visited China, Russia, South America, Scandinavia, and Greece.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Norton Baker, daughter Beth Baker Janser (husband Kevin), son Kenneth N. Baker (wife Julie), granddaughters Kelsey Janser Fromal (husband Jason) and Mary Kate Baker, grandsons Cole and Jack Baker, and great -grandson Hayden Fromal.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Samaritan's Purse in memory of Dolly.