George Robert Baker Sr.

George Robert Baker, Sr., a native of Mobile and devoted husband and father, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2024. Mr. Baker was born on September 17, 1938. He is preceded in death by his parents, Hallie Moore Baker and Haywood Kingsley Baker, Sr. and his sister, Emily Baker Zimlich. He is survived by his devoted wife of sixty-two years, Joyce Poates Baker, and his sons, George Robert Baker, Jr. (Melissa) of Mobile and Stephen Moore Baker (Eleanor) of Mobile. His adoring grandchildren, who fondly called him Whoa Whoa, live in Mobile and include Eleanor “Ellie” Elizabeth Baker, Robert Hayes Baker, Stephen “Buck” Moore Baker, Jr., Hallie Inge Baker, and George Kingsley Baker. He is also survived by his older brother, Haywood Kingsley Baker, Jr. (Lynn) of Dallas, TX and several nieces and nephews and their families.

Bob graduated from Murphy High School where he excelled in academics and athletics. He was selected as a pitcher for the Mobile All-City Baseball Team for two years. At Auburn University he earned a BSME degree in Mechanical Engineering and lettered as a pitcher on Auburn’s baseball team all four years of college. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and Pi Tau Sigma Engineering Honorary Society. Although Bob was an all-around successful baseball player, he always remembered his childhood team, the Hannon Park Haycees, as his favorite.

Immediately upon graduating from Auburn, Bob was hired by Scott Paper. He spent twenty years in the Consulting Engineering business in Mobile. Seventeen years of his career was spent with Armstrong World Industries in Mobile, where he retired as a Senior Principal Engineer. One of his career highlights was serving as the Engineering Project Manager for the relocation and rebuilding of the No. 2 Paper Machine at Scott Paper to a new green field site at Mobile Paperboard.

Throughout his life he was active in church work as a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and later St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – Mobile. He served as President of the Murray House Board, was a Wheel-a-Meal board member, and was a charter member of the Sunrise Rotary Club. He was passionately active in the youth sports programs at Municipal Park and St. Paul’s Episcopal School for his sons’ athletic teams. He also coached and enthusiastically supported all his grandchildren’s endeavors as well.

Bob was talented at woodworking throughout his life. As a teenager he designed, manufactured, and sold water skis with his older brother. He also enjoyed completing countless projects in his garage workshop, including a beautiful gazebo he built piece by piece for his beloved Joyce in their backyard. He loved planning and completing house projects with her as they maintained and renovated their lovely home on Old Shell Road.

A graveside service will be held at Pine Crest Cemetery at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, followed by a Memorial Service at 10 a.m., and a Visitation from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mobile. In lieu of flowers please send memorials to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or Wheel-a-Meal.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

4051 Old Shell Road

Mobile, AL 36608

Spring Hill Presbyterian Church

Attn: Wheel-a-Meal

10 Westminster Way

Mobile, AL 36608