Roll Call Tribute

Published in (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram on August 10, 2012

John Patton "Jack" Baker(1923 - 2012)

John Patton "Jack" Baker, 89, beloved father, grandfather and brother, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in Fort Worth. Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday at Wiley Funeral Home. Interment: Evergreen Cemetery in Lipan. Visitation: 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the National Kidney Foundation or to Habitat for Humanity. Born Jan. 31, 1923, in Aledo, Jack was raised in Erath County on the Jarvis Ranch (now known as the Houston Ranch). He was the son of Sloan and Claudia Patton Baker. He was married to his childhood sweetheart, Virginia Gilbert of Lipan. The couple wed on New Year's Day in 1944 and remained devoted to each other until her death in late 1999. Together, they raised three children and were later blessed with four grandchildren. Jack attended Lipan Schools, where he was an active FFA member. In 1939, as a member of Hood County 4-H, he raised the Grand Champion steer shown at the State Fair in Dallas and received national recognition for showing the Reserve Champion at the International Stock Show in Chicago. He was a proud graduate of Texas A&M, Class of 44. His class was called to active military duty prior to graduation, but he returned after the war to complete his degree. A few years later he received his master's degree at A&M and subsequently he earned his Ph.D. in animal nutrition from the University of Illinois. From 1967-1991, he was chairman of the Horse Section in the Animal Sciences Department at the University of Kentucky. Following his retirement, he pursued his hobbies--woodworking, reading, crossword puzzles and volunteer work. Always modest about his many contributions, he was an active volunteer for many organizations, including Southern Hills Methodist Church (Lexington, Ky.), the Nathaniel Mission, the Kidney Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and numerous other causes he quietly supported with not only financial support but also with his time. In 2006, he returned to his native Texas, where he resided until his death. Jack was an amazing role model, not only for his children and grandchildren, but for friends and neighbors as well. Seeing humor in most everything, he kept in perspective what was important in life. With a smile and ready wit, he could make routine activities fun. Beyond that, he inspired others to pursue their dreams and was supportive of their efforts. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his son, John P. Baker Jr.; brothers, Sloan Baker and James "Jim" Baker; and sisters-in-law, Rose Harris Baker and Audean OBannon Gilbert. Survivors: He is survived by daughters, Sharon Baker Laakso (William) of Annapolis, Md., and Cynthia Baker Dobson of Fort Worth; and Stephanie Dobson of Dallas and Amy and Mark Laakso of Annapolis; siblings, Ned Baker (Ruth) and Judy Baker Stroud (Robert) of Granbury; brother-in-law, Ben Gilbert of Stephenville; sister-in-law, Kathy Baker of Granbury; and daughter-in-law, Evalyn Torppa Baker of Vancouver, Wash.