Berniece Rogena “Bernie” Baker Goodin, 91, passed away at 8:15 a.m. March 6, 2014, in Golden Years Homestead Nursing Home, Fort Wayne. She was born April 6, 1922, in Allen County, to Arthur R. and Dessie Tonkel Opliger. On Oct. 20, 1941, in Fort Wayne, she married Cecil Andrew Baker, who died Jan. 22, 1970. In the summer of 1972, in Angola, she married Jim Goodin, who died Aug. 5, 1996. Throughout much of her life, and during the growing-up years of her children, she and Cecil lived in the New Haven and the Lake Gage area until his death; then she and her second husband, Jim, moved from Lake Gage to Snow Lake, Fort Wayne and Auburn. After Jim passed away, Berniece moved to Warsaw, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law until her move to Golden Years Homestead in 2009. She was a busy homemaker, and during the many years of selling Avon, she made lots of friends because of her wonderful smile and sweet disposition. She had a special gift of lovingly caring for others. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and gardening and was a seamstress. She loved sunshine and boating. Music was a huge part of her life; she and her family loved singing together. Over the years she attended New Haven United Methodist Church, Waterloo United Methodist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church. Surviving are a son, Nickey (and spouse Jo) Baker, Belton, Texas; three daughters: Sherry (and spouse Glen) Yoder, Warsaw; Carol (and spouse Gene) Bosworth, Angola; Lana (and spouse Mike) Anderson, New Haven; two sisters, Vera (and spouse Donald) Reiter, Leo, and Lorraine Pearsall, Brevard, N.C.; a stepson, Kim (and spouse Joyce) Goodin, Fort Wayne; 17 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a son, Kenton Keith Baker, who died March 20, 2007; and a brother, Howard Arthur Opliger, who died Dec. 14, 1999. Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church, Warsaw, with Pastor David Hummel, pastor at Trinity, officiating. Burial is in Harlan Cemetery. Calling is from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the church. Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials to Golden Years Homestead, 3136 Goeglein Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815. Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com
