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Elizabeth (Libby) Baker Hoebener

Elizabeth (Libby) Baker Hoebener, 88, widow of the late Rev. Thomas Baker, died Jan. 15 from a heart attack. A memorial service was held Jan. 20 at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville where she had lived the past 12 years.

Elizabeth Held, a member of Towson Methodist Church, and Thomas Baker were married in 1943 while he was pastor at Friendship Methodist Church. In 1947, they moved to Forest Memorial in Forestville, and in 1960, he was appointed to St. Paul in Chevy Chase. He died while serving there in 1961. At each of her husband?s appointments, she worked with the youth programs and interfaith initiatives.

During the World War II years, while her husband was at Friendship, she edited a newsletter with the youth for all those who were away from home because of the war. At Forestville she continued association with the families at Andrews Air Force Base; and when they moved to St. Paul?s she regularly visited patients at Walter Reed Army Hospital, according to an obituary she prepared before her death.

Hoebener had a degree from Goucher College and a master?s degree from studies at Columbia, Towson and Johns Hopkins universities. Following her husband?s death, with two young daughters to support, she taught social studies for 16 years at Towson High School, retiring in 1977.

She married Wesley C. Hoebener, a mechanical engineer from Washington, D.C., in 1972. They lived for 20 years in Rodgers Forge before moving to the Charlestown Retirement Community in 1993. He died in 1998.

Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Tidemand of Silver Spring, and Dr. Katherine Baker of Harrisburg, Va., and two granddaughters.

Condolences may be sent to Nancy Tidemand, 2508 Jennings Court, Silver Spring, MD 20902.