John enriched the lives of all who knew him. Born February 20, 1921 to Ella (Betz) and William Register Baker, John grew up in Crowville, Louisiana. Later, he graduated from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute and Georgia Tech with degrees in engineering. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he worked his entire career with Shell Oil Company as a research engineer in new product development. He retired from Shell in 1991 at the age of 70.
John was a member of Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Experimental Aircraft Association. He loved new challenges, all things mechanical (especially cars), flying, hummingbirds, and taking care of people. He never met a person in need whom he didn't stop to help. Any work to be done, he pitched right in. Any problem to be solved got him thinking until he came up with a new idea to be tested.
He is survived by Lois, his wife of 67 years; his children John Douglas (Marilyn), Nancy Baker (George Vernon), and Don (Leslie Gold); his grandchildren Melissa Albright (Stan), Jennifer Jazwinski (James), Claire Leeds (Bill Bevis), Sierra and Juliette Baker; his great-grandchildren Andrew and Jessica Howard; his brothers Wallace and Denis; his sister Ella Margaret Humble; his in-laws Peggy Baker, Mary Lou Baker, Margie Lee Read, and Leslie Read; numerous nieces and nephews; and his friends Ruthie and Gordon Chambliss, his Shell family of coworkers, and Eric Anderson, all of whom he valued highly.
John died October 31, 2013. He is preceded in death by his son David; his grandson Douglas; his brothers William, Glen, and Pat; his in-laws Emma Rose, Elizabeth, and Lillian Baker, John Read, May and Merrill Brunk, and John Humble; his nieces and nephews Pat Wilkerson, Charles Baker, Steven Baker, Carolyn Weier, John Brunk, and Bill Read.
There will be a celebration of John's life beginning with a 10:00 a.m. visitation with the family followed by an 11:00 a.m. service on Tuesday November 5th at Union Presbyterian Church, 2707 5th Street, Monroe, WI. Following the service a light lunch will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Green County Food Pantry or to the College of Engineering and Science, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana. Online condolences may be shared at newcomerfuneralhome.net.
John was a member of Union Presbyterian Church in Monroe, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Experimental Aircraft Association. He loved new challenges, all things mechanical (especially cars), flying, hummingbirds, and taking care of people. He never met a person in need whom he didn't stop to help. Any work to be done, he pitched right in. Any problem to be solved got him thinking until he came up with a new idea to be tested.
He is survived by Lois, his wife of 67 years; his children John Douglas (Marilyn), Nancy Baker (George Vernon), and Don (Leslie Gold); his grandchildren Melissa Albright (Stan), Jennifer Jazwinski (James), Claire Leeds (Bill Bevis), Sierra and Juliette Baker; his great-grandchildren Andrew and Jessica Howard; his brothers Wallace and Denis; his sister Ella Margaret Humble; his in-laws Peggy Baker, Mary Lou Baker, Margie Lee Read, and Leslie Read; numerous nieces and nephews; and his friends Ruthie and Gordon Chambliss, his Shell family of coworkers, and Eric Anderson, all of whom he valued highly.
John died October 31, 2013. He is preceded in death by his son David; his grandson Douglas; his brothers William, Glen, and Pat; his in-laws Emma Rose, Elizabeth, and Lillian Baker, John Read, May and Merrill Brunk, and John Humble; his nieces and nephews Pat Wilkerson, Charles Baker, Steven Baker, Carolyn Weier, John Brunk, and Bill Read.
There will be a celebration of John's life beginning with a 10:00 a.m. visitation with the family followed by an 11:00 a.m. service on Tuesday November 5th at Union Presbyterian Church, 2707 5th Street, Monroe, WI. Following the service a light lunch will be served. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Green County Food Pantry or to the College of Engineering and Science, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana. Online condolences may be shared at newcomerfuneralhome.net.