Bill was the one who got me my first job in construction. He was alot of fun and  if you ever heard him laugh you could pick him out anywhere. He was a great guy to have in your corner in a pinch. He would never back down and had the heart of a lion. I worked a week one day with Bill if you know what I mean. We are gonna miss ya old buddy. I know he is keeping watch over his family from above. God help the Angel that tells Bill how to do concrete work up there when he is building things up in heaven because the Lord has given him a new body and he is promptly trying to wear it out. Go BAKE!!!!!!

Mary and family we were so sorry to hear about Bill. Mary you were Rhonda's babysitter years ago now she has three children of her own.
Ron and Patricia Wallace

I was so sorry to hear of your loss.  The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

  To the Baker family, my deepest sympathy for your loss. Even though Bill was a bit older, he would always speak to me, especially in the Cloverleaf. My thoughts go to Mike and his family, who also reside in Az. He was a remarkable man, and consider him one of the best of the Genoa gang.

I will always remember the time Bill allowed Kay and I to take his Corvette for a drive. What a great guy. Our condolences to Mary and family, Liz, Keith, Mike and Kay.

I still remeber the 1st time I met Mr. Baker, out at Papago Park to work a tournament as a fellow umpire.  Mr. Baker was a true colleague and friend that I had the pleasure of umpiring many, many tournaments with.  I remember that road trip we took together to Tucson to go do an all-night tournament about 6 years ago and I learned all about the "real Mr. Baker."  He had a huge, huge heart that matched his huge smile and you couldn't help but enjoy watching him do what he loved.

Mr. Baker my friend, may you rest in peace on that big softball field in the sky and don't forget to do "that dance" on strike three buddy.  Thanks for the many years of working together, I'll miss you dearly and daily.  I look forward to seeing you again and working another "two-man" for the Big UIC upstairs.

To Mrs. Baker, thanks for keeping Bill "in-line", and letting him come out to play, as he told me.  He was a true, genuine man who loved his wife with all his heart.

I'm not sure this is the same Bill Baker I knew as a teenager.  But just in case it is him, my condolences go out to his family. We lived in Maryvale from 1958 to 1964 and Bill was my brother's friend.
Judi Risinger

My condolences to his family.

When you heard the name "Baker" in the softball world, you knew who it was. I've played countless games that were officiated by Baker and I don't remember a single bad word ever said about him. That is very unusual for an ump.

He will certainly be missed by hundreds of players.

Mr. Baker was an awesome man as well as a great umpire. He would go out of his way to greet you at the USSSA Softball Tournaments and it was a treat to have him working our games. My thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones. He will be missed...Isaac Ruiz

Baker, you will be missed. I only knew him as an umpire but his spirit I am sure touched many a soul.  "On the Dish" Baker sure hope they have softball up there!!!!!

A very honest and kind hearted man, from my first step on to the softball field to the present Mr Baker was there. he will be greatly missed but not forgotten. my thoughts and prayers to his friends and family.

Our prayers and deepest sincerity goes out to Baker's family! He was a kind hearted man with a great sense of humor. He also mastered selective hearing to those who complained about his RIGHT call(s)! I can still hear him make his comments under his breath loud enough for the score keepers to hear and elaborate... he was a GREAT jokester! R.I.P, and Baker you WILL BE MISSED!!!

*SC*

My name is Mike McCormick and I am a director of AZ USSSA.  YOu will not find a more wonderful gentleman and fairer umpire than Mr. Baker.  I always enjoyed and looked forward to having Mr. Baker being a part of my tournaments.  He always greeted me with a great smile, a firm handshake and an enthusiatic attitude.   He enjoyed bantering with coaches, other umpires and especially the players.  He gave nothing but his best effort.  It is with great saddness that I say good bye, I will miss your smile and your stories.  The world has lost someone who made it a better place...but Heaven has gained a great fisherman.

Mr Baker was one of the greatest guys to ever touch the Arizona Softball community. Always had fun and always had a smile. He will never know how many of us he touched in a fun way. Many of us left the park weekend after weekend with a huge smile. Thanks Mr. Baker for all you did, you will not be forgotten.

My sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Mr. Baker was a great part of the Arizona softball comunity, always a good guy to sit and talk with between games and on the field he was a hustler to try to get into position to make the best call he could. I remember him telling me "I may not get all the calls right, but I do my best". And that was one thing you could always count on, his best! Mr. Baker will be sorely missed and remembered as a great man who demonstrated real passion in all that I saw him do. God bless and keep you my friend.

OBITUARY

William "Bill" Baker Jr.

August 13, 1942 – April 13, 2010

Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary

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