Paul James Baker

Paul James Baker, 88, of Bloomington, passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 with family at BroMenn Hospital. He was beloved.

Paul was born on February 1, 1938 in Marion County, Ohio, to Leslie Owen Baker and Eva Katherine Royer Baker. He grew up in Hancock County, Ohio and earned degrees in Sociology at Baldwin Wallace College (BA), Kent State (MA) and Duke University (PhD).

Paul married Sharon Lynne Armstrong on December 27, 1959 in their college chapel. They were inseparable during 66 years of marriage and raised four children.

Paul was hired by Illinois State University in 1965 as an expert in sociological theory and history to help develop a sociology department. He served in that department until 1985, when he moved to the Education and Administration and Foundations Department to focus on public schools and school reform. He was honored as a Distinguished Professor in 1992 and formally retired in 2001, though he continued to work on educational projects for the next decade. He wanted his students not to just learn things, but to use their learning long after the courses had ended.

Paul loved books, the ideas they contain, and the community and connections he could create with them. For two years in the early 1970s he moved his family into the Tri Towers at ISU and taught his classes in the residence hall. He was an active teacher and leader at the First Presbyterian Church of Normal and First Baptist Church of Bloomington. He was president of the Home Sweet Home Mission and the Oakwoods Homeowners Association. Paul burned with an urgency to fight for fair treatment for those who needed it most, and to gently but methodically persuade others to feel the same.

Some view committees as places where challenges are sent to timidly expire. Paul was far more optimistic. He organized with academic peers to force the resignation of an out-of-step president at Illinois State University. Twice. When he called a family meeting of his young children to discuss the particulars of chore duty, there was a typed agenda, a seriousness of purpose, and a genuine invitation to equal partnership. What should the financial penalty be when the nine-year-old is late in drying the dishes? Discuss.

He was consumed by his work, which was often indistinguishable from his joy, and acted as if work-life balance could be met by doing 100% of each. He set high expectations for himself but accepted the human inevitability of falling short. He was a deep admirer and frequent quoter of St. Benedict’s phrase “Always, we begin again,” an invitation to grace and self-compassion while doing our best work. He would want you reading this to know that, and try it.

Paul is survived by his wife Sharon Baker, daughter Elizabeth Groebe (Duncan), sons David, Stephen (Heidi), and Seth (Caroline), fifteen grandchildren and one great-daughter; and sister Sara (Jeff) and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by Leslie and Eva Baker, and his brothers James, Samuel, Richard and David.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Sunday, November 15 at First Baptist Church of Bloomington, 2052 E College Ave. Those attending the memorial service are also invited to refreshments and visitation between 1:00 and 2:00.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to the Illinois State University Foundation with a designation that it go to the LEADS Fellowship for Doctoral Students, Campus Box 8000, Normal, IL 61790

Or online at: https://giving.illinoisstate.edu/fund/leads-fellowship-for-doctoral-students/ 

Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Champaign Chapel is honored to assist the family with funeral arrangements.

Please join Paul’s family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.