edith baker rich
May 19, 1933 - May 19, 2025
Memorial Service
Saturday, October 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Abiding Presence Lutheran Church
In-Person & Online
Reception to Follow at the Church
To participate in Edith’s funeral service online, go to AbidingPresence.net/live on the day of the funeral and you will find the service.
Edith Baker Rich, recently of Suwanee, Georgia, passed away in the early morning hours on her 92nd birthday, May 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Edith was born in Daytona Beach, FL to Annie Erin Baker and Robert Henry Baker, in 1933, and was the youngest of four children. As a child, she spent a lot of time going to the beach, on picnics, and swimming at DeLeon Springs and Blue Springs. Later, she enjoyed sharing these places with her children and grandchildren and regaling them with tales of courage, like “There were alligators in the water, but it was okay, we always had someone on the lookout who let us know if they got too close.” and “When walking to the top of the spring, you wanted to be sure not to be second in line: for the first person would stir up the snakes, and the second would get bit!”
Edith aspired to work in the medical field, but when she found out that she had to dissect a cat, that was the end of that! However, she did end up working in a related field—health insurance. At age 19, she moved to Washington DC to spend the summer with a college friend, and didn’t return to live in Florida until her retirement years. It was in Washington that she met the love of her life, Ernie Rich…though it took her a while to warm up to him! Ernie proposed on Christmas Eve, 1957, and they married on April 10, 1958, in a small wedding followed by a reception in her apartment. They were married 65 years before Ernie’s death.
Together, Edith and Ernie lived in Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, and North Carolina, putting down roots and making friends wherever they lived. They traveled the country in their motor home, and Europe by boat and by car. In retirement, they were both dedicated volunteers at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL for years. They loved playing cards—especially bridge, canasta, and spite and malice—which they patiently taught to the next generation. Edith eagerly learned all sorts of technology from her children and grandchildren, so she could stay ‘in the know’. She was adept at texting, Facetime, Facebook, ordering from Amazon, ‘asking Alexa’, and tuning into online worship services when she could no longer make it to church. Her grandchildren’s favorite memories include her perpetually-stocked freezer filled with frozen Crunch bars, happy hour hospitality, crafts, camping, golden-rod eggs, and a silly sense of humor. She had the joy of sharing her birthday with her grandson Patrick for 36 years. On the evening of Edith’s death, Patrick and his wife welcomed a new son, Sutton, into the world: a beautiful image of the legacy of love, passed from one generation to the next. We are forever grateful for the friend, mom, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother Edith was, and for all she taught us.
Edith is survived by three children: Sandra Glass (Ben) of Fairfax Station, VA, Debbie Hughes (Sandy) of Suwanee, GA, and Steven Rich (Carolyn) of Cary, NC; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Colleen Rich.
We look forward to gathering with friends and family to celebrate her life on October 18, either in person or online, and would be honored if you’d join us for the reception if you can.