Roy Denver Baker was born on Jan. 2, 1917, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He grew up in Arkansas City, Arkansas attending grade school and working on his father's farm. He earned his high school diploma in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Mr. Baker was a WWII Veteran. He enlisted in the Army/AirCorps in June 1941 and was stationed in North Africa and Italy during his four-year service time, as well as several other duty stations in the United States. He was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant in September 1945.
Mr. Baker attended Ball State Teacher's College in 1947, transferring to the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado, where he earned his bachelors degree in 1949. Mr. Baker also attended the University of Denver, where he earned his masters degree in 1951.
Mr. Baker lived in the Truckee area for 32 years with most of his years spent at his San Souci Resort on Donner Lake. He was an educator for the Truckee-Tahoe School District for 30 years, working as the librarian for the Truckee-Tahoe High School. He retired in 1981, moving to Reno shortly afterward, where he spent the remainder of his life. He continued to work in education, volunteering at the University of Nevada Reno as a part-time instructor. Education was a high priority for Mr. Baker and he was a firm believer in higher education, establishing several scholarship funds for various colleges, including the University of Arkansas, University of Colorado, Ball State College as well as several others. One of his greatest joys was receiving letters from students who benefited from the Robert and Rosa Baker Scholarship Fund (in memory of his beloved grandparents).
Mr. Baker was a world traveler throughout his life, touring most of the European and Scandinavian countries, Russia, and most recently, China. He enjoyed family genealogy, learning about and sharing the history of the Baker/Lingar families. He was a history buff and was a member of the Truckee-Donner Historical Society.
Mr. Baker passed away on December 4, 2011, a month shy of his 95th birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, Addison Baker and Phoebe Lingar Baker, his brothers Albert Baker, Desmond Baker and Robert Baker, and his sisters Willie Hughes and Fern Marcom. Mr. Baker lived a wonderful life and left behind many friends as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. He was interred at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada. Remembrances of Roy Denver Baker can be made to a favorite charity or to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. A celebration of Roy Baker's life was held on Friday, December 9, 2011 at Sky Peaks Retirement Community in Reno.
Information provided by family friend, Tom Forselles, San Luis Obispo, California, 2014.
Mr. Baker attended Ball State Teacher's College in 1947, transferring to the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado, where he earned his bachelors degree in 1949. Mr. Baker also attended the University of Denver, where he earned his masters degree in 1951.
Mr. Baker lived in the Truckee area for 32 years with most of his years spent at his San Souci Resort on Donner Lake. He was an educator for the Truckee-Tahoe School District for 30 years, working as the librarian for the Truckee-Tahoe High School. He retired in 1981, moving to Reno shortly afterward, where he spent the remainder of his life. He continued to work in education, volunteering at the University of Nevada Reno as a part-time instructor. Education was a high priority for Mr. Baker and he was a firm believer in higher education, establishing several scholarship funds for various colleges, including the University of Arkansas, University of Colorado, Ball State College as well as several others. One of his greatest joys was receiving letters from students who benefited from the Robert and Rosa Baker Scholarship Fund (in memory of his beloved grandparents).
Mr. Baker was a world traveler throughout his life, touring most of the European and Scandinavian countries, Russia, and most recently, China. He enjoyed family genealogy, learning about and sharing the history of the Baker/Lingar families. He was a history buff and was a member of the Truckee-Donner Historical Society.
Mr. Baker passed away on December 4, 2011, a month shy of his 95th birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, Addison Baker and Phoebe Lingar Baker, his brothers Albert Baker, Desmond Baker and Robert Baker, and his sisters Willie Hughes and Fern Marcom. Mr. Baker lived a wonderful life and left behind many friends as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. He was interred at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada. Remembrances of Roy Denver Baker can be made to a favorite charity or to the Paralyzed Veterans of America. A celebration of Roy Baker's life was held on Friday, December 9, 2011 at Sky Peaks Retirement Community in Reno.
Information provided by family friend, Tom Forselles, San Luis Obispo, California, 2014.
