We are sad to announce the passing of our mother Ina Bess Whitaker of Sunnyvale, California. At the age of 102, due to natural causes, "Bess" passed away peacefully on the morning of June 14 th , 2023, while surrounded by family members. Shortly before her passing she recited Psalm 23, along with her family, and listened to music and true to her thoughtful nature, was concerned about disturbing others nearby in the hospital.

Bess was born in Brownfield, Texas on February 6th, 1921. In school she was a very good student, even being promoted up a grade to join her older sister Nelda which, as the story went, Nelda was not too thrilled about. After completing high school she married Jim Baker who was serving in the military at the time. They resided in a few different Texas locations before heading west and settling down in the Santa Clara Valley in California. She worked for awhile at the Libby Cannery on Fair Oaks Avenue in Sunnyvale, but really found her calling when she started working for Ken Hill Realty (now Hill & Co. Realtors) as a secretary in April 1961, staying there for a span of 55 years as Fred Hill, then Marianne Hill took leadership of the company. She loved working there and became part of the Hill family until her retirement in 2016 at the age of 95.

Bess was a devoted mother and provider for her family, much of the time having to do the work that would normally be divided between two parents. She loved traveling, dancing, singing, her wardrobe, her collection of butterfly themed items and doing crossword puzzles (which she was very a good at even recently when given the clues orally). She was an active volunteer in Quota Club for many years and loved her many friends there. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Sunnyvale (now Crosswalk Community Church) and served in various ways there over a span of many decades. She sang in the choir and also could typically be found sitting in one of the very front pews, listening
attentively and singing in full voice during the congregational hymns. Her friends at church and Christian faith were in many ways her foundation and support throughout her life.

Bess was proceeded in death by spouses Jim Baker and Jack Whitaker, her father Thomas Alvin Hicks, Sr., her mother Bessie Darden Hicks, her brother Tommy Hicks and sister Nelda Van Dyke (who also lived to be 102). She is survived by her daughter Ruthann (Mark) Schroeder and son Tommy (Katie) Baker, seven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Please join us for her memorial service on Friday June 23rd at Crosswalk Community Church, 445 S. Mary Avenue in Sunnyvale. The service will begin at 3:00 p.m. A private graveside service will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos prior to the memorial service.

Bess requested donations be made to the charity of your choice.