Obituary
Rushville- Dolores “Dodie” (Vinyard) Baker went to be with her Lord on December 27, 2025 after a brief illness.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, Jan. 2 from 4-7 p.m. at the Perkins-Ames Funeral Home, 2583 East Main St., Gorham, NY 14461. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
She was born December 19, 1957 in Berlin, New Hampshire to Kenyon and Marie (Wiseman) Vinyard and grew up in the picturesque village of Stark, NH. She graduated from Groveton, NH High School in 1975. Dodie operated a fabric store with her sister and worked in retail and the bar and restaurant industry for many years, managing a home decor store, The Brassworks, in Keene, NH.
She married Ted Baker September 15, 1991 in West Milan, NH. She became a born again Christian not long after and was active in her churches, running a caregiver support group at Crosswinds Wesleyan Church in Canandaigua.
The couple moved to the Finger Lakes in 2003 and bought their home in Rushville in 2004. Dodie became the Cubmaster of Pack 43 in Rushville and served as a camp counselor and activity leader at Camp Babcock-Hovey in Ovid, as well as Cub Round Table Commissioner for the Seneca Waterways District. She earned Scouting’s Wood Badge award.
In 2011, Dodie became the Director of the Mabel D. Blodgett Memorial Reading Center in Rushville, overseeing its state charter application to become a library and helping put plans in place for an expansion of the building. She began Christmastime in Rushville, an annual celebration that includes Santa’s arrival by fire truck and the lighting of the library Christmas tree. She was named Citizen of the Year by the Rushville Lions Club.
Dodie loved the Lord and loved the people of Rushville. She befriended those who needed it most. She loved her family, cooking, reading, gardening, music and watching murder mysteries.
Dodie is survived by her husband Ted Baker of Rushville, children Caleb Baker of Rushville and Felix Baker of Geneva, brother Don Vinyard of Berlin, NH and sisters Diana Bourbeau of West Milan, NH and Donna
Hathaway of Milan, NH and by her beloved kitties Sunny and Merlin, who miss her terribly as we all do.
Please visit www.perkinsamesfuneralhome.com to send a message of condolence to Dodie’s Family.
Services
Calling Hours
Perkins-Ames Funeral Home
Main Street, Stanley
Memorial Service
Perkins-Ames Funeral Home
Main Street, Stanley
Condolences
Deb Morgan from Rushville, NY on Dec. 29, 2025
I met Dodie at the library at a gingerbread house project the library sponsored. Meeting Dodie led to continued visits and many enjoyable chats. She was a very sweet lovable lady and I will miss her. I will always be glad that I decorated a gingerbread house which led to meeting Dodie.
A forever friend.
Deb
Amy and stephen Melton from Canandaigua, ny on Dec. 29, 2025
I met Dodie at crosswinds caregiver support group. She loved on me and supported me thru the good times and bad caring for my mother. She was a dear soul, and I will miss many things about Dodie Including her warm hugs. Our deepest sympathies to Ted and the kids, whom she loved so much.
Candy Wood from Rushville,NY on Dec. 29, 2025
Dodie was an angel when we needed her most through my mom's passing, a house fire, and someone I could talk to about everything. You will be missed dearly my friend
Pam Valliere (Dube) from Gorham NH on Dec. 29, 2025
Words can not express the sorrow I feel for all of you in the loss of our Dodie. She truly loved.
You all will be in my thoughts as you grieve such a great loss.
With love and deepest sympathy
Pam
Anna S from Rochester,Ny on Dec. 29, 2025
Dodie was one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever come across. She instantly clicked with my grandmother whom she grew close with but also my family especially my little one at home. She instantly acted like a grandma to my child and responded to every I love you my daughter gave her. We are deeply saddened but she forever touched our lives!
Leila Villeneuve from Berlin NH on Dec. 29, 2025
Deepest sympathies, hugs and prayers to all her family. She will be missed dearly.
Katrina Hurlburt from Rushville New York on Dec. 29, 2025
I am so sorry for your loss. Your in my thoughts and prayers. Dodie will be missed. My kids absolutely loved her as their librarian.
Ferne McAllister from Tolland, CT on Dec. 30, 2025
With sincere sympathy to all of Dodie’s family. I knew Dodie only as a little girl, when my family visited my grandparents (Vernon and Beatrice) who lived just down the street every summer. I was enchanted with the entire Vinyard family, and finally renewed my friendship with Diana through FB. I am so very sorry for your loss. Prayers for happy memories to ease your grief.
Sharon Simmons-Shepard from Rushville on Dec. 31, 2025
My thoughts and Prayers are with your Family
Sharon
Ezra and Cyrus
Joanne Le Clair from Rushville, New York on Jan. 2, 2026
Through her work at the Mabel D. Blodgett Memorial Library, the Boy Scouts of America, and her church Crosswinds, Dodie has left a legacy of kindness and compassion that will be felt in her community for a long time to come. I am thankful and proud to call her my friend.