Robert Thomas Baker

With the Great Depression underway and the second World War a few years on the horizon 1935 was a year of true importance. Amelia Earhart became the first pilot to fly solo from Hawaii to California, Howard Hughes set the airspeed record, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act and many thousands of Americans had to face the dust bowl and abandon their farms to look for a new life elsewhere.

But in Detroit, Michigan a son was born to Roy William and Katherine (Cat) Mary Genaw Baker on August 20, 1935. Bob grew up to be the light of their life graduating from Marine City High School and then serving in Labrador and Eglin Air Force Base in the United States Air Force. Between growing up on the St. Clair River and serving in the military near the Gulf of Mexico Bob just loved the water even working as a life guard and putting on ski shows for large groups of people.

While in the service Bob fell in love with a girl while conversing with her through letters. Bob and Patricia (Davis) went on to have four children together.

Bob worked as a Fireman for a time and then a Postman. He moved from Paw Paw, Michigan to Scottsdale Arizona in 1978. Bob retired from the Post Office in 1992 but still worked various jobs. One of his favorite jobs was giving Cowboy desert jeep tours.

Bob was a very spiritual person and an articulate person who liked things to be neat, clean and orderly. After retirement he met a woman that he fell in love with that made him smile every moment of the day. Miss Kitty Gunther was his Jersey girl that he is now with in heaven. He lived his life in the State that he loved, in the home that he loved and on his own terms. Bob usually rode his bicycle several times a day and was an avid tennis player playing several times a week even into his 80’s.

Robert Thomas Baker Sr. went to be with our lord on April 1st 2019 after a very short illness.

He is survived by his Children Robert Thomas Baker Jr. of Kalamazoo, Kathryn (Chris) Finch of Delton, Todd (Fiancee Patricia Norton) Baker of Plainwell and Patricia (Chris) Morehouse of Plainwell. Grandchildren Courtney Hernandez, Rusty (Ashley) McGregor, Chad Baker, Dylan (Alyson) McGregor, Kyle Baker, Abbi (Wes) Clark and Alexis Morehouse. Great Grandchildren Owen, Claire, Auston, Andre, Adrian, Isabella, and Lily.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Jack.

There will be a military service at Fort Custer 15501 Dickman Road Battle Creek, Michigan. on May 10th at 10:00am with a luncheon afterward at the Delton Moose Lodge on M-43.