Baba, Dr. Mike Joseph, 92, passed away Friday, February 11, 2011. He was born June 2, 1918 to Lebanese immigrant parents Joseph and Naema Baba at Rush Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada during the great flu epidemic. He survived it which was a good testament to his survival capabilities in future years.
Dr. Mike was born on the farm that his father and mother homesteaded in 1910. His parents were pioneers and he lived the pioneer's life on the farm. He was the 7th child of 8. At the age of 7 he went to the country school and did chores before and after school daily. Dr. Mike was such a good student that he skipped the 4th and 7th grades. There was no high school so he took 9th -11th grade by correspondence. At age 16 he finished 11th grade then went to Bismarck North Dakota where he graduated in 1936 from Bismarck High. He then went to Wichita Kansas, to attend Wichita and Friends Universities for his pre-dental studies. He decided, at age 14 to be a dentist because he admired the successful dentist in his home town.
He graduated in 1943 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Dentistry having worked his way through school. Soon after graduation with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, he volunteered in the Army and was received as a 1st Lutienant in the Army Dental Corp., and immediately became an American Citizen. He served in the U.S., volunteered 3 times overseas and then transferred to the Army Air Force and went up the ranks to the rank of Major. He served 4 years active duty and 8 years in the reserve, earning the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Returning from overseas in 1946 he set up his dental practice in Wichita and took great pride in the fact that he was a pioneer and leader in preventive dentistry. He participated in research and development of the red stain tablet which highlights unclean teeth. Dr. Baba authored the book "Are They Really Clean" and lectured extensively on dental prevention. As Chairman of the School Dental Health Education Committee 73,000 dental kits were distributed to all Wichita school children. He was instrumental in founding the School of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. His fellow dentists honored him with the three highest honors in Dentistry; Fellow of American College of Dentists and Fellow of International College of Dentists and Dentist of the Year. Upon retirement from Dentistry, at age 72, many of his patients congratulated him for taking care of their dental needs and appreciated the fact that "you cared".
In 1950 Dr. Mike met a registered nurse Anna Mae L'Ecuyer, as a patient in his office, who he married in 1952. She was without a doubt the "Love of his Life". He was also active in his church serving three out of four years as Chairman of the Parish Council, during which time they built the half-million dollar Parish hall, free of debt. He was a hard worker but always took time to enjoy family activities, golf, bowling, and fishing with friends and some flying. He knew how to be of help to others but also knew how to enjoy and appreciate life to the fullest. He thanked God every day for the talents that God had given him.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mae; four children, Dr. Joseph (Jae) Baba of Wichita, Debbie Epperson of Overland Park, Cheryl (Jack) Baba Kellogg of Wichita, Lynelle (Greg) Pierce of Leawood; seven grandchildren whom he loved very much and loved to be with; and his sister Vicki (Bob) Poulos of San Jose, California, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation 12-5 p.m., Thursday at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca. Prayer Vigil 7 p.m. Thursday; funeral Mass 11 a.m., Friday, both at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 139 S. Millwood, Wichita.
Source: Wichita Eagle - Feb 2011
Dr. Mike was born on the farm that his father and mother homesteaded in 1910. His parents were pioneers and he lived the pioneer's life on the farm. He was the 7th child of 8. At the age of 7 he went to the country school and did chores before and after school daily. Dr. Mike was such a good student that he skipped the 4th and 7th grades. There was no high school so he took 9th -11th grade by correspondence. At age 16 he finished 11th grade then went to Bismarck North Dakota where he graduated in 1936 from Bismarck High. He then went to Wichita Kansas, to attend Wichita and Friends Universities for his pre-dental studies. He decided, at age 14 to be a dentist because he admired the successful dentist in his home town.
He graduated in 1943 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Dentistry having worked his way through school. Soon after graduation with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, he volunteered in the Army and was received as a 1st Lutienant in the Army Dental Corp., and immediately became an American Citizen. He served in the U.S., volunteered 3 times overseas and then transferred to the Army Air Force and went up the ranks to the rank of Major. He served 4 years active duty and 8 years in the reserve, earning the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Returning from overseas in 1946 he set up his dental practice in Wichita and took great pride in the fact that he was a pioneer and leader in preventive dentistry. He participated in research and development of the red stain tablet which highlights unclean teeth. Dr. Baba authored the book "Are They Really Clean" and lectured extensively on dental prevention. As Chairman of the School Dental Health Education Committee 73,000 dental kits were distributed to all Wichita school children. He was instrumental in founding the School of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. His fellow dentists honored him with the three highest honors in Dentistry; Fellow of American College of Dentists and Fellow of International College of Dentists and Dentist of the Year. Upon retirement from Dentistry, at age 72, many of his patients congratulated him for taking care of their dental needs and appreciated the fact that "you cared".
In 1950 Dr. Mike met a registered nurse Anna Mae L'Ecuyer, as a patient in his office, who he married in 1952. She was without a doubt the "Love of his Life". He was also active in his church serving three out of four years as Chairman of the Parish Council, during which time they built the half-million dollar Parish hall, free of debt. He was a hard worker but always took time to enjoy family activities, golf, bowling, and fishing with friends and some flying. He knew how to be of help to others but also knew how to enjoy and appreciate life to the fullest. He thanked God every day for the talents that God had given him.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mae; four children, Dr. Joseph (Jae) Baba of Wichita, Debbie Epperson of Overland Park, Cheryl (Jack) Baba Kellogg of Wichita, Lynelle (Greg) Pierce of Leawood; seven grandchildren whom he loved very much and loved to be with; and his sister Vicki (Bob) Poulos of San Jose, California, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation 12-5 p.m., Thursday at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca. Prayer Vigil 7 p.m. Thursday; funeral Mass 11 a.m., Friday, both at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 139 S. Millwood, Wichita.
Source: Wichita Eagle - Feb 2011
Baba, Dr. Mike Joseph, 92, passed away Friday, February 11, 2011. He was born June 2, 1918 to Lebanese immigrant parents Joseph and Naema Baba at Rush Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada during the great flu epidemic. He survived it which was a good testament to his survival capabilities in future years.
Dr. Mike was born on the farm that his father and mother homesteaded in 1910. His parents were pioneers and he lived the pioneer's life on the farm. He was the 7th child of 8. At the age of 7 he went to the country school and did chores before and after school daily. Dr. Mike was such a good student that he skipped the 4th and 7th grades. There was no high school so he took 9th -11th grade by correspondence. At age 16 he finished 11th grade then went to Bismarck North Dakota where he graduated in 1936 from Bismarck High. He then went to Wichita Kansas, to attend Wichita and Friends Universities for his pre-dental studies. He decided, at age 14 to be a dentist because he admired the successful dentist in his home town.
He graduated in 1943 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Dentistry having worked his way through school. Soon after graduation with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, he volunteered in the Army and was received as a 1st Lutienant in the Army Dental Corp., and immediately became an American Citizen. He served in the U.S., volunteered 3 times overseas and then transferred to the Army Air Force and went up the ranks to the rank of Major. He served 4 years active duty and 8 years in the reserve, earning the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Returning from overseas in 1946 he set up his dental practice in Wichita and took great pride in the fact that he was a pioneer and leader in preventive dentistry. He participated in research and development of the red stain tablet which highlights unclean teeth. Dr. Baba authored the book "Are They Really Clean" and lectured extensively on dental prevention. As Chairman of the School Dental Health Education Committee 73,000 dental kits were distributed to all Wichita school children. He was instrumental in founding the School of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. His fellow dentists honored him with the three highest honors in Dentistry; Fellow of American College of Dentists and Fellow of International College of Dentists and Dentist of the Year. Upon retirement from Dentistry, at age 72, many of his patients congratulated him for taking care of their dental needs and appreciated the fact that "you cared".
In 1950 Dr. Mike met a registered nurse Anna Mae L'Ecuyer, as a patient in his office, who he married in 1952. She was without a doubt the "Love of his Life". He was also active in his church serving three out of four years as Chairman of the Parish Council, during which time they built the half-million dollar Parish hall, free of debt. He was a hard worker but always took time to enjoy family activities, golf, bowling, and fishing with friends and some flying. He knew how to be of help to others but also knew how to enjoy and appreciate life to the fullest. He thanked God every day for the talents that God had given him.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mae; four children, Dr. Joseph (Jae) Baba of Wichita, Debbie Epperson of Overland Park, Cheryl (Jack) Baba Kellogg of Wichita, Lynelle (Greg) Pierce of Leawood; seven grandchildren whom he loved very much and loved to be with; and his sister Vicki (Bob) Poulos of San Jose, California, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation 12-5 p.m., Thursday at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca. Prayer Vigil 7 p.m. Thursday; funeral Mass 11 a.m., Friday, both at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 139 S. Millwood, Wichita.
Source: Wichita Eagle - Feb 2011
Dr. Mike was born on the farm that his father and mother homesteaded in 1910. His parents were pioneers and he lived the pioneer's life on the farm. He was the 7th child of 8. At the age of 7 he went to the country school and did chores before and after school daily. Dr. Mike was such a good student that he skipped the 4th and 7th grades. There was no high school so he took 9th -11th grade by correspondence. At age 16 he finished 11th grade then went to Bismarck North Dakota where he graduated in 1936 from Bismarck High. He then went to Wichita Kansas, to attend Wichita and Friends Universities for his pre-dental studies. He decided, at age 14 to be a dentist because he admired the successful dentist in his home town.
He graduated in 1943 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Dentistry having worked his way through school. Soon after graduation with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, he volunteered in the Army and was received as a 1st Lutienant in the Army Dental Corp., and immediately became an American Citizen. He served in the U.S., volunteered 3 times overseas and then transferred to the Army Air Force and went up the ranks to the rank of Major. He served 4 years active duty and 8 years in the reserve, earning the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Returning from overseas in 1946 he set up his dental practice in Wichita and took great pride in the fact that he was a pioneer and leader in preventive dentistry. He participated in research and development of the red stain tablet which highlights unclean teeth. Dr. Baba authored the book "Are They Really Clean" and lectured extensively on dental prevention. As Chairman of the School Dental Health Education Committee 73,000 dental kits were distributed to all Wichita school children. He was instrumental in founding the School of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. His fellow dentists honored him with the three highest honors in Dentistry; Fellow of American College of Dentists and Fellow of International College of Dentists and Dentist of the Year. Upon retirement from Dentistry, at age 72, many of his patients congratulated him for taking care of their dental needs and appreciated the fact that "you cared".
In 1950 Dr. Mike met a registered nurse Anna Mae L'Ecuyer, as a patient in his office, who he married in 1952. She was without a doubt the "Love of his Life". He was also active in his church serving three out of four years as Chairman of the Parish Council, during which time they built the half-million dollar Parish hall, free of debt. He was a hard worker but always took time to enjoy family activities, golf, bowling, and fishing with friends and some flying. He knew how to be of help to others but also knew how to enjoy and appreciate life to the fullest. He thanked God every day for the talents that God had given him.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mae; four children, Dr. Joseph (Jae) Baba of Wichita, Debbie Epperson of Overland Park, Cheryl (Jack) Baba Kellogg of Wichita, Lynelle (Greg) Pierce of Leawood; seven grandchildren whom he loved very much and loved to be with; and his sister Vicki (Bob) Poulos of San Jose, California, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation 12-5 p.m., Thursday at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 S. Seneca. Prayer Vigil 7 p.m. Thursday; funeral Mass 11 a.m., Friday, both at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 139 S. Millwood, Wichita.
Source: Wichita Eagle - Feb 2011
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