Marilyn Joan Baker

Marilyn “Joan” Baker, 86, of Parkersburg, West Virginia passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.

Born in Parkersburg, she was a daughter of the late Paul and Elizabeth McClain Parsons.

Joan attended Marshall University after graduating from Parkersburg High School. She then went on to work eight years for Corning Glass, where she met her husband, and as a library clerk for West Virginia University at Parkersburg for over twenty years.

She was a member of Trinity Christian Church where she started as a youth playing the organ, sang with the choir, and where she served as a financial secretary for twenty years.

Joan was a forty-eight-year member of the Torchbearer Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, where she enjoyed the companionship of all her sorority sisters.

The family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice and the following ladies mom enjoyed being with, her caregivers, Lisa Bibbee, Mary Burnheimer, and Debbie Dowler; and her special friend and Beta Sigma Phi sister, Beth Pifer.

In addition to her parents, Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas James Baker in 2019, twin-sister, Carolyn Roan Watson; and a dear friend Lisa Gianettino, whom she cared for like a daughter.

She is survived by her son Rodney - Rod (Peggy and her children Ryan and Brooke); cousins Bill Boso (Charolette), Susan Williams (Jeff), Dick McClain (Sharon), Joedda McClain (Jay), and nephews Michael Watson (Amy), Jeff Shumway (Tollie), Lori Otto (Mark), and Diane Gattis (Michael).

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Trinity Christian Church, 2406 10th Avenue, Parkersburg, WV 26101, with Pastor Michael Kidd officiating. Services will conclude with interment beside her husband at Evergreen South Cemetery. A visitation of family and friends will be at Vaughan Kimes Funeral Home, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026, and one hour prior to service at the church.