Barbara Baker Vliet

Barbara Baker (Bobbie) Vliet, 93, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away in Albuquerque, NM on August 21, 2018. Born in Oak Park, Illinois on June 8, 1925 to Homer Stanford Baker and Grace Graham Baker, Barbara was an only child. On June 10, 1950, she married Warren Thomas Vliet, a fellow high school student whom she met after WWII.  They were married at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, NJ, and were wed for 52 years. She is survived by her daughters, Anne, and husband John, and their two children and three grandchildren; Sue and her two children and two grandchildren; son Thomas, of Albuquerque; her daughter Elizabeth, of New York, NY; and sister-in-law Audrey and husband Jim.

At age 2, her family moved to Elizabeth, N.J. where she attended school up to grade 7. The family moved to Westfield, N.J. where she graduated from Westfield High School in 1943 and went on to Denison University in Granville, Ohio where she obtained a BA in History/English in 1947.  Barbara worked for the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company in their general accounts office as a customer service representative for 4 years where she transitioned all the accounts of the United Nations when they moved to their new headquarters in New York City. She said it was the best job ever.

Barbara was a housewife and active volunteer in her church and community and continued to participate in her children’s activities as they grew. She served as a secretary for The Presbyterian Church, president of the YWCA and College Club in Westfield, the PTA board of Franklin Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and Westfield High schools, the Veteran’s hospital in Lyons, N.J., and the Girl Scouts of America. She also helped with the town of Westfield’s Tricentennial Celebration. 

Barbara and Warren lived in Clinton, N.J., for ten years after her 4 children graduated from high school, and then when Warren retired in 1990, they move to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. While in N.M., Barbara volunteered at the Indian Pueblo Culture Center and at the Albuquerque Museum as a docent in art and sculpture. She was also a member of AAUW, the Alpha Phi Alumnae Club, a deacon of the Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church, and continued her hospital volunteer work at a clinic in Rio Rancho.  Her loving husband of 52 years passed away in 2002.

We especially want to thank the staff at The Woodmark Uptown Memory Unit for caring and providing for our mom for the last 4 years.  There will be a memorial service at Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church, 1004 24th St. SE, on Friday, September 7, 2018 at 4:00pm, reception following.  Donations in Barbara’s name may be sent to the Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church, 1004 24th St SE, Rio Rancho, NM, 87124, or the Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104.