Richard Baker

Dick grew up on a farm in Wisconsin where he raised chickens for his first job at the age of 12 for the restaurant owned by his older sisters, Kathryn and Priscilla. As a young boy he had the responsibility for processing over 500 chickens per week.

Two years after graduating from Saxon High School, Dick enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War for a four-year stint. After completing boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, he spent a year and a half at Kodiak Island, Alaska. The Navy put him in the “boat shop” as a Damage Controlman where he learned how to operate and repair machines. Dick’s life-long passion for fishing began while he served in Alaska. His most significant duty assignment was as a carpenter and boat repairman on the U.S.S Gardiners Bay (AVP-39). By 1955 he completed his Navy service as a First Class Petty Officer at Treasure Island, San Francisco.

After serving in the military Dick practiced his other passion of working as a carpenter. Dick worked almost 30 years as a union carpenter and was an honorary member of the Carpenter’s Union (Local 46) for 58 years. He was employed by the same contractor (Murchison Construction) building commercial structures throughout Northern California. Some of the projects included a ski lodge in Truckee, microwave towers for AT&T, telephone company buildings and a Highway Patrol Building in Mt. Shasta. When his work took him away to remote construction sites in the mountains, his family would join him where he taught them how to “rough it” at campsites.

Dick was open to new adventures such as clam digging and crab fishing with his young family at Dillon’s Beach and Bodega Bay. His quiet time in the morning was spent reading the newspaper and drinking coffee while he counted the pheasants that made their way across the road at “Baker’s Acre” in Sacramento. He played “got you last” at bedtime with his four daughters and taught them how to bait a hook and drive a stick shift.

In his leisure time he and the other members of the Sacramento Woodworkers Club created wooden toys for distribution through the Salvation Army Christmas program. Every year they would deliver wooden cradles complete with dolls to children throughout the Sacramento area. He spent many happy hours working in his woodshop, building or repairing items.

He was a long-time member of the Fremont Presbyterian Church serving faithfully on the Buildings and Grounds committee and as a member of the Nautilus Mariners and FIRS. He brought an artisan’s eye and expertise by devoting his woodworking craft to projects at Fremont. His love of Jesus Christ was apparent throughout his life.

Dick is survived by his former wife Harriet Baker and their four daughters, Carol Skydancer (grandchildren Kirsten, Taylor and Gaia), Mari (Larry) Boone (granddaughters Heather McMahon and Alison Boone), Anna Baker and Laura Baker (grandson Eddy). He is predeceased by Janet Baker and Alice Baker, who brought him many years of happiness in his later years.

A special thanks to the staff and residents at Campus Commons Assisted Living for treating Dick like family and proudly honoring his military service and to the hardworking staff at Well Quest of Elk Grove and Suncrest Hospice during his end of life. Blessings to Dr. Shing Chen Chung of Kaiser for her kindness and professionalism to Dick over the years.

Thank you to longtime friends Byron & Georgi Bluse, Don & Peggy Heck and Bill Miller for their continued friendships with Dick over many, many years.