Roland Ira Baker

Roland was born on December 10, 1934, to Frank (B.F.) and Alice Baker of Waterford, California. Roland and his two younger siblings were raised in Roland’s grandparents’ home, a farmhouse originally built in 1920. On their land in the Waterford area, they farmed peaches and from his family Roland learned the value of hard work, and he grew strong in his faith.

Roland attended Oakdale High School and graduated in 1954. He enjoyed participating in numerous sports, and he was an outstanding high school football player. He was involved in Oakdale High FFA, and his first solo farming project was growing peaches on five acres of land loaned to him by his father for that purpose. After graduation, Roland attended MJC where he played football and studied Ag Science.

From 1956-58, Roland spent two years overseas where he worked in Austria and Germany rebuilding schoolhouses that had been damaged from bombing during World War II.

In 1963, Roland met Karen Johnson, and his world was never the same again. He persuaded her to court him even though they lived in different parts of California; after attending a Young Farmers BBQ together in Oakdale, Roland asked Karen to spend her life with him. Roland and Karen were married on June 21, 1964, at Church of the Brethren in Waterford. They moved into the family home, continuing the farming tradition that was their heritage. They were blessed with two children, Brian and Tim, and they continued investing in their farm life together while watching their boys grow.

Known as an incredibly hard worker and an upstanding business partner, Roland was a member of the Diamond Walnut Association, the Blue Diamond Growers Association and was President of the Waterford Ambulance Association. In 1980, he was elected as the President of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, where he served for two years. Friends remember Roland as a man of few words; but when he spoke, people paid attention. Today Roland’s son, Tim, maintains what has been cultivated over generations.

Roland was a passionate Giants baseball fan and had many treasured memories with family and friends at downtown games. He loved adventure and was an avid fisherman, pheasant, and elk hunter. He hiked Half Dome in Yosemite, and had many wonderful travels to Germany, Hawaii, and Alaska. His most cherished times were with his children and grandchildren – giving four-wheeler rides, play “fighting,” cheering on his grandsons in Little League, or just being together talking, watching sports, and sharing life. The lessons he taught us are what grounds us and keeps us looking up; they will not be forgotten.

Roland is survived by his loving wife of over 57 years, Karen, his son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Katie Baker (Ben, Bethany, Jimmie, Kaylee, and Gracie), his son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Kelly Baker (Brandon, Tyler, and Timothy), his brother, Loren Baker, his sister, Viola Bloch, and numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 3:00PM at Community Bible Church in Waterford (14143 Yosemite Blvd, Waterford, CA). In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sacramento Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Camp Sylvester.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakewoodHughson.com for the Baker family.