Vivian Baker

Vivian Marie Jorgensen Baker died on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at the age of 86. She was born in Dwight, Illinois on December 21, 1931 to the late Pearl Hazelteen (Grush) and Albert Jorgensen.

Music was the great love of her life. If her farm-raised grit had allowed her just one complaint in life, it would be that there was never enough time to practice and play. She started on the piano, fell in love with the trombone, but eventually pressured to focus on the more "ladylike" French horn. Viv studied with the great Philip Farkas at the VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, and earned her Bachelor's in Music at the University of Arkansas, where she played in the marching band and sang in her brother Bob's jazz combo. She lived in New York, Oklahoma and Washington DC, before settling in Columbus, where she worked for many years at Stanton's Sheet Music. A pit musician for the Kenley Players, she also performed with Women in Music. With her husband, oboist and conductor William P. Baker, she toured and performed with the Prevailing Winds and Land of Legend Philharmonic.

Viv's only greater love than music was her family. She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, musician William P. Baker, and her children Mark Hovey (Karen Collins) and Kendra Hovey (Greg Bonnell), her step children Curt, John, Ellen, and Justin Baker, grandchildren Grace, Patrick, Cleo, Aaron, Sam, Andrew, Sam L., Olivia, and Ashley, and her brother Robert Jorgensen, 88, nieces Cindy, Susie, Debbie, and Judy, and many great nieces and nephews.

Vivian grew up without electricity or plumbing, but she always had music. She wishes every child could have the musical opportunity she had. Gifts in Viv's honor may be made to City Music (citymusiccolumbus.org). A memorial will be held at 3:00pm Sunday April 22 in the Ravine Room at Wesley Glen, 5155 N. High St. Friends and relatives can meet in fellowship and share memories of Vivian.