Dean Baker

Dean Baker, age 101, of Litchfield Park, Arizona died on Sunday, February 8, 2015 in Goodyear. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side. Dean was a very special person, appreciated and loved by everyone who knew him. Born in Porterville, California on January 10, 1914; he returned as a child with his family to their roots in Oklahoma. He and Ruby Pugh married in Holdenville, Oklahoma on August 27, 1940 and soon moved to Perryville, Arizona to begin their new life. Children Larry Dean and Dolores June were born in Buckeye. Times were lean, but the Bakers persevered and prospered. Dean worked in agriculture for most of his career and spent 30 years as farm foreman for Allen Belluzzi, Sr. and Jr. He was a “jack of all trades” and always willing to lend a helping hand. Ruby passed away in 2005 in Goodyear, and Dean lived with Larry and wife Margaret Truman Baker in Litchfield Park for ten years. Dean is survived by children Larry and Dolores, eight grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. We will miss his ever-present smile and good nature, and look forward to the day when we all will be together again. On Saturday, February 14, 2014 visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. and funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at the First Southern Baptist Church, 1001 N. Central Avenue, Avondale, where Dean was a member for 65 years. After a reception at the church, burial will follow at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, 719 N. 27th Avenue, Phoenix. We are grateful to Alex and Elizabeth Budjoso at True Love and Care of Goodyear, and to Hospice of the Valley for their compassionate care of our Dad. Donations in Dean’s name may be made to First Southern Baptist Church of Avondale, or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sean and Cynthia Thompson at Thompson Funeral Chapel in Goodyear, Arizona.