Kathryn (Kitty) Cardwell Baker

Kathryn (Kitty) Cardwell Baker died at her ranch home near Waelder Texas on Monday afternoon June 2^nd, 2014 of congestive heart failure. At the time of her death, she was three months shy of her 102^nd birthday.

Born in Lynchburg Virginia, August 21^st, 1912, Kitty attended public schools in Lynchburg, Virginia. She entered Randolph-Macon Women’s College, graduating in 1934, cum laude, with special honors in Mathematics. She attended graduate school at the University of Chicago for the next two years, earning a master of science degree in the Summer of 1935.

In the fall of 1936, she met Paul Baker while they were both teaching at Baylor University. In December of 1936, they married and began to merge ideas concerning art, mathematics, and theatre.

Kitty gave birth to three daughters: Robyn, Retta, and Sallie. Paul and Kitty celebrated 72 years of marriage before he died on October 26, 2009. Kitty continued to live independently and run her ranch, displaying a remarkable ability to live fully in the present and to welcome all of life’s challenges with optimism. 

Her two-fold passions of art and mathematics were woven together in a 39-year career of teaching math at Baylor, San Antonio College, Lynchburg College, and Randolph Macon Woman’s College. She was listed in Who’s Who of American Women and the National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel. Throughout her career she was a practicing artist, and in retirement became a master weaver and teacher of fiber arts.

Kitty Baker founded the Baylor Children’s Theatre in Waco and co-founded the Discovery Center at the Presbyterian Church of Gonzales. She co-authored Our Theater, A Place for Ideas, and edited Making Sense With the Five Senses by Paul Baker. 

Kitty is survived by her daughters, Robyn Flatt, Retta VanAuken, Sallie Baker; grandchildren: Melissa Ferrell, Marshall Ferrell, Kristi Cardwell, Erick Flatt, Jamie Laurie, Paul Laurie; great grandchildren: Zoe Long, Ruby Long, Tommy Bullion, Ferrell Bullion, Sam Bullion, Beau Bullion, Lucas Flatt, Sophia Flatt, Roman Flatt, Jacob Ferrell, Madison Ferrell, Morgan Ferrell.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Kathryn Cardwell Baker will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 14^th 2014 at the Presbyterian Church of Gonzales, 414 St. Louis Street.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Discovery Center at the Presbyterian Church of Gonzales.