David Steele Baker

Dave was born in Dallas, Texas to Ernest and Lake Ann Baker and lived a full and wonderful life of 85 years surrounded by family and friends. Sixty-one of these years were spent in a waltz of life and love with his wife Fern, beginning when they met as students at the University of Texas and with whom he shared a final waltz during the anniversary dance at a wedding just four days prior to his death. In addition to his wife, Dave is survived by siblings Jane Strobel, and William Baker and wife Laura Mae; children, Rebecca Dekker and husband Jack, Martha Stiles and husband Mike, and Kenneth David Baker and wife Julie; grandchildren, Kyle Dekker and wife Amy, Kristen Dekker Wright, Katrina Dekker, Jennifer Stiles, Robert Stiles, Eric Baker and wife Amanda, Jeffrey Baker; and six great grandchildren.

Dave served two years in the Navy before earning a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He then began his career with the Atomic Energy Commission at the Hanford Nuclear facility in Richland, Washington followed by 23 years as an application engineer for General Electric in Schenectady, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Dave finished his career after 21 years as an electrical consulting engineer with Brown & Root in Houston, Texas. He held a professional engineering license in several states, was elected as a Fellow of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and served many years on the committee responsible for revising and updating the industry standard Electrical Code Books. Dave was invited to be a visiting professor at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and taught in the Department of Electrical Engineering.

Dave was actively involved in the Boy Scouts, earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout as a youth and then serving for many years as a Scout Master and being inducted into the Order of the Arrow as an adult. He was actively involved in the church throughout his life; serving as an ordained elder of the Presbyterian Church, assisting on the building and facilities committees of various churches, and participating in many other fellowship groups and activities. Dave has been an active volunteer with numerous organizations and especially enjoyed the time he spent as buyer for the Cenacle Retreat House bookstore for the last ten years. He had many hobbies which included woodworking, history, genealogy, photography, and spending quality time with family and grandchildren.

A memorial service to celebrate Dave’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on April 25, 2013 at Grand Lakes Presbyterian Church in Katy, Texas. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that gifts be given for a communion table to be constructed to compliment the cross which hangs in the church’s sanctuary that was lovingly designed and handcrafted by Dave. Please send any such gifts to Grand Lakes Presbyterian Church (memo: Communion Table Fund) at 6035 South Fry Road, Katy, Texas 77450.