Described by a daughter as a woman ahead of her time, Mabel M. Baker worked full time, volunteered as superintendent of her Elgin church kindergarten and still had dinner on the table every night for her husband and three children. “She always had a meal on the table by 5:30 p.m.,” said her daughter Beverly Hoffman. Mrs. Baker, 86, died of Alzheimer’s disease Sunday, Dec. 21, at Lutheran Home & Services, Arlington Heights. Born in New Ulm, Minn., she spent nearly all of her life in Elgin, graduating from Elgin High School in 1934. An employee of Illinois Bell Telephone Co. for more than 25 years, she started as an operator in downtown Chicago and retired as a wire chief clerk in the Elgin office. For 13 years she taught Sunday school at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Elgin and volunteered as the kindergarten superintendent, her daughter said. Other survivors include a son, Bruce; another daughter, Barbara Wittenstrom; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A private service is planned.
