Oberta A. (Obie) Slotterbeck Baker, 85 years of age, passed away Friday, November 19, 2021 in Aurora, Ohio. Born in Cincinnati, OH on July 3, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Ober and Lealia (Gilbert) Slotterbeck. She grew up and attended high school in Union County, NJ. After receiving her B.S. in History and Psychology in 1958 from The Ohio State University, she taught special education and mathematics in Columbus, OH and Union County, NJ before returning for her M.S. (1966) and Ph.D. (1969) in mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin. There she met her husband, Johnnie W. Baker, and they were married on June 13, 1971 in Florida, where both were Assistant Professors of Mathematics: she at University of Florida, and he at Florida State. In 1974, they moved to Ohio, built a house that Obie designed, and Obie created the Computer Science Program at Hiram College. Beloved by her students, she retired from Hiram College in 2009 as Professor Emerita. She was an avid genealogist and also enjoyed reading, traveling and swimming at her second home in Boca Grande, FL. Before moving to Ohio, she also enjoyed horseback riding and scuba diving.
In addition to her husband Johnnie W. Baker at home, she is survived by their daughter Jonobie (Jeffrey) Ford, of Redmond, Washington.
No calling hours. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hiram College, designated for the “Oberta A. Slotterbeck Endowed Fund for Computer Science”. Arrangements are by the Green Family Funeral Home & Crematory Service in Mantua, where condolences and memories may be viewed at www.greenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
