John Robert Baker
John Robert Baker died Monday, April 19, 2010. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Sunday at Genesis United Methodist Church. Interment: 10:30 a.m. Monday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Memorials: Gifts in his memory may be made to the Building Fund at Genesis United Methodist Church, 7635 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth, Texas 76133; or Habitat for Humanity, 3345 S. Jones St., Fort Worth, Texas 76110. John was born Oct. 8, 1946, in Rochester, N.Y., son of Elwood and Bessie Berbig Baker. He grew up in Lincoln, N.Y., and earned an undergraduate degree in physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and a graduate degree from Embry-Riddle University. His 22 years of service in the U.S. Air Force took him to Thailand during the Vietnam War. He flew both the F-105 and the F-16 and retired as a lieutenant colonel. After retirement, he joined a small group of engineers working on future weapons for aircraft through Lockheed Martin, where he worked for 20 years. John loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was passionate about flyfishing, birding, the arts, solving puzzles, bridge, traveling and Daschunds. He was an active member of the Fort Worth Flyfishing Club and a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. He was a loving husband, father and friend, and will be missed by all who knew him. John was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard; and his first wife, Cyndee. Survivors: His wife, Marsha; son, Spencer; granddaughter, Anabelle; sister, Pat; nieces, Eva and Hannah; and Marsha's children, Shawn Mills and Shelley Carrington, and grandchildren, Layne Mills and Will Carrington. Published in Star-Telegram on April 24, 2010