GOLDA GELLER BAKER
1933-2017
Golda Geller Baker was born on July 18, 1933 to Abram L. & Libby Yellen Geller. Her older siblings were Reba Geller Swiff of Dallas, Devora Geller Rubin of Dallas and Dr. Jacob Geller of Howard, Colorado.
A native Houstonian, Golda graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1950, where she was known for her sense of humor, which thankfully never left her. After attending the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon, she graduated from The University of Houston with a degree in Education. When Congregation Beth Yeshurun decided to expand Beth Hayeled pre-school into elementary years, the late Rabbi Malev contacted her directly. She created the entire secular curriculum and happily served as the school’s very first 1st Grade teacher for 5 years. She was a cheerleader for her students, proud of their many accomplishments, in contact with many of them throughout her life.
As the daughter of founding members of Beth Jacob Congregation, Golda was a lifelong member of United Orthodox Synagogues and Congregation Brith Shalom. She greatly enjoyed the spirituality, warmth and leadership of Rabbi Ranon and Vicki Teller.
A travelling pioneer, in 1955 Golda went to the new country of Israel on a Junior Hadassah program – this would be just the first of dozens of trips to Israel, her favorite travel destination. Following a hugely successful blind date to Galveston, Golda married Gilbert Jerome Baker of Baltimore in 1956. The best friends spent 61 incredible years together, travelling the world, loving each other, building a business and contributing to their community, side by side. They created a fun, warm, supportive and adventurous family with their three daughters, Karen Leba Baker, Ann Baker Ronn, and Marcie Baker Turrin. Golda spent innumerable hours with her girls’ PTAs, putting on wonderful birthday parties, and planning great travel adventures for her family. She loved and was highly entertained by her sons-in-law who were more like sons, David Ronn and Peter Turrin.
Along with raising her family and serving as the Financial Manager of The AFP Group, Golda spent much of her time volunteering with The Houston Chapter of Hadassah and Camp Young Judaea Texas. The many leadership positions she held included both founding and serving as President of the Anne Frank Hadassah group, Big Gift Chair multiple times, and Hadassah Southwest Region Vice President numerous times. She was delighted to have co-chaired Hadassah’s highly successful Women of Courage fundraiser with her daughters. She was an inspiring personal mentor to many Hadassah newcomers, and always a wise and level-headed voice of reason.
One of Golda’s proudest accomplishments is Camp Young Judaea Texas. She and Gil served as co-chairs of the Southwest Zionist Youth Commission, then overseeing camp. After a lightning strike destroyed the main buildings, it was proposed for financial reasons to close the camp. Gil and Golda took an inventory of the leaders in the Texas Jewish community and beyond, noting that dozens of them were former CYJ campers who owed their Jewish and Zionist affiliation at least in part to CYJ. They determined then that whatever it took, they would do their part to keep camp running. They embarkedon a capitol campaign in which funds were raised for a new Chadar Ochel (dining hall) and Beit Am (public hall). Those buildings now bear the names of Gil and Golda Baker. At her last trip to camp, as she motored around the amazing campus that she and Gil could scarcely have dreamed of, her joy & pride were evident. Three of her grandchildren are attending CYJ this summer.
Our dear Golda is survived and much missed by her loving husband, Gilbert J. Baker; sister, Devora Rubin; brother, Jacob Geller; daughters and sons-in-law Karen L. Baker, Ann Baker Ronn & David Ronn, Marcie Baker Turrin & Peter Turrin. Also loving and missing her are her six beloved grandchildren, Gabrielle, Netanya & Ahava Ronn, Avi Blum, and Bryan & Lev Turrin. She was lovingly cared for in her last days by Mary Ann Wiley, Shirley Parsons, Zee Smith and Nadia Morales, who will always have a place in our family.
Services will be held on Sunday, June 18 at 2:00 at Congregation Brith Shalom, 4610 Bellaire Boulevard, and followed by a burial at Beth Jacob Cemetery 2300 Almeda-Genoa Road, 77047. Shiva will be held Sunday through Thursday at the home of Gil Baker.
In lieu of flowers, please consider Golda’s request that donations be made to The Houston Chapter of Hadassah or to Camp Young Judaea Texas. We also are so grateful for the kind and loving support and guidance of Houston Hospice.