Samuel Gerald Baker Jr., 89, of Garden Street, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.
Born Aug. 26, 1922, in Manchester, N.H., he was the son of Samuel G. and Yvonne (Harbour) Baker Sr. At an early age, his family moved to Berlin, N.H. where he attended school. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade to go to work to help support his family working at odd jobs in the Berlin area.
On Oct. 30, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served aboard the newly launched aircraft carrier, USS Lexington, during World War II. He was a gunnery operator and fought in battles throughout the Pacific Theater and the South China Sea. After the war ended, the Lexington supported the supply drops to U.S. prisoner of war camps on Honshu and the occupation of Japan until leaving Tokyo Bay on Dec. 3 with homebound veterans to San Francisco, where he was discharged Dec. 19, 1945.
On Sept. 27, 1947, Sam married Jacqueline F. Desjardin in St. Jean the Baptist Church in Manchester, N.H. Following their marriage, they lived on the West Side in new apartments built to accommodate GI's returning home from the war.
Without a high school diploma, he was given permission to take the college entrance exam for St. Anselm's College in Manchester and passed with the highest grade. While attending college, he served on the Manchester Police Force graduating in 1953, with a bachelor of science degree in economics.
In 1955, Sam moved his family to Barre and went to work for the William H. Rorer Pharmaceutical Co. While in Barre, he was an active member of St. Monica Catholic Church serving on the parish council, as an usher for Sunday Mass and as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was active in the beginning stages of the Canadian Club, a member of the Country Club and the Elks Club all of Barre. Along with his wife Jackie, he was involved in the Fresh Air Program, organizing families to host inner city children during the summer. In 1971, he moved back to Manchester and began a career as a supervisor at the Youth Development Center. He received great satisfaction in his work helping troubled kids retiring in 1987 and moving to St. Petersburg, Fla. After his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, they moved to East Barre to live with their daughter and caregiver.
Sam was a true patriot. A well read and intelligent man, he was passionate about current events, politics and religious issues. He loved a good debate but to take him on, one needed to be well informed. His interests were varied. He enjoyed working in his gardens and doing lawn care, skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer, listening to all types of music, reading, and attending Mass. He was a member of the church choir in East Barre and loved to sing. He relished telling a good story, had a wonderful quirky sense of humor, was not ashamed to cry if emotions got the best of him and was very proud of his years spent as a policeman and as a Marine serving his country. He was a dear and gentle man who will be missed by his family whom he loved very much.
He was predeceased by his wife Jacqueline; brothers, Gerald Baker, Paul Baker and Bernard Baker and sisters, Lorraine Lepage and Dorothy Roy.
To honor his wishes, a private committal will take place Thursday with full military honors at the Vermont Veteran's Cemetery in East Randolph with a Mass of Christian burial to follow in St. Sylvester Church in Graniteville. There are no calling hours.
Published in Times Argus from November 7 to November 8, 2011
Born Aug. 26, 1922, in Manchester, N.H., he was the son of Samuel G. and Yvonne (Harbour) Baker Sr. At an early age, his family moved to Berlin, N.H. where he attended school. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade to go to work to help support his family working at odd jobs in the Berlin area.
On Oct. 30, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served aboard the newly launched aircraft carrier, USS Lexington, during World War II. He was a gunnery operator and fought in battles throughout the Pacific Theater and the South China Sea. After the war ended, the Lexington supported the supply drops to U.S. prisoner of war camps on Honshu and the occupation of Japan until leaving Tokyo Bay on Dec. 3 with homebound veterans to San Francisco, where he was discharged Dec. 19, 1945.
On Sept. 27, 1947, Sam married Jacqueline F. Desjardin in St. Jean the Baptist Church in Manchester, N.H. Following their marriage, they lived on the West Side in new apartments built to accommodate GI's returning home from the war.
Without a high school diploma, he was given permission to take the college entrance exam for St. Anselm's College in Manchester and passed with the highest grade. While attending college, he served on the Manchester Police Force graduating in 1953, with a bachelor of science degree in economics.
In 1955, Sam moved his family to Barre and went to work for the William H. Rorer Pharmaceutical Co. While in Barre, he was an active member of St. Monica Catholic Church serving on the parish council, as an usher for Sunday Mass and as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was active in the beginning stages of the Canadian Club, a member of the Country Club and the Elks Club all of Barre. Along with his wife Jackie, he was involved in the Fresh Air Program, organizing families to host inner city children during the summer. In 1971, he moved back to Manchester and began a career as a supervisor at the Youth Development Center. He received great satisfaction in his work helping troubled kids retiring in 1987 and moving to St. Petersburg, Fla. After his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, they moved to East Barre to live with their daughter and caregiver.
Sam was a true patriot. A well read and intelligent man, he was passionate about current events, politics and religious issues. He loved a good debate but to take him on, one needed to be well informed. His interests were varied. He enjoyed working in his gardens and doing lawn care, skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer, listening to all types of music, reading, and attending Mass. He was a member of the church choir in East Barre and loved to sing. He relished telling a good story, had a wonderful quirky sense of humor, was not ashamed to cry if emotions got the best of him and was very proud of his years spent as a policeman and as a Marine serving his country. He was a dear and gentle man who will be missed by his family whom he loved very much.
He was predeceased by his wife Jacqueline; brothers, Gerald Baker, Paul Baker and Bernard Baker and sisters, Lorraine Lepage and Dorothy Roy.
To honor his wishes, a private committal will take place Thursday with full military honors at the Vermont Veteran's Cemetery in East Randolph with a Mass of Christian burial to follow in St. Sylvester Church in Graniteville. There are no calling hours.
Published in Times Argus from November 7 to November 8, 2011
Samuel Gerald Baker Jr., 89, of Garden Street, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.
Born Aug. 26, 1922, in Manchester, N.H., he was the son of Samuel G. and Yvonne (Harbour) Baker Sr. At an early age, his family moved to Berlin, N.H. where he attended school. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade to go to work to help support his family working at odd jobs in the Berlin area.
On Oct. 30, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served aboard the newly launched aircraft carrier, USS Lexington, during World War II. He was a gunnery operator and fought in battles throughout the Pacific Theater and the South China Sea. After the war ended, the Lexington supported the supply drops to U.S. prisoner of war camps on Honshu and the occupation of Japan until leaving Tokyo Bay on Dec. 3 with homebound veterans to San Francisco, where he was discharged Dec. 19, 1945.
On Sept. 27, 1947, Sam married Jacqueline F. Desjardin in St. Jean the Baptist Church in Manchester, N.H. Following their marriage, they lived on the West Side in new apartments built to accommodate GI's returning home from the war.
Without a high school diploma, he was given permission to take the college entrance exam for St. Anselm's College in Manchester and passed with the highest grade. While attending college, he served on the Manchester Police Force graduating in 1953, with a bachelor of science degree in economics.
In 1955, Sam moved his family to Barre and went to work for the William H. Rorer Pharmaceutical Co. While in Barre, he was an active member of St. Monica Catholic Church serving on the parish council, as an usher for Sunday Mass and as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was active in the beginning stages of the Canadian Club, a member of the Country Club and the Elks Club all of Barre. Along with his wife Jackie, he was involved in the Fresh Air Program, organizing families to host inner city children during the summer. In 1971, he moved back to Manchester and began a career as a supervisor at the Youth Development Center. He received great satisfaction in his work helping troubled kids retiring in 1987 and moving to St. Petersburg, Fla. After his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, they moved to East Barre to live with their daughter and caregiver.
Sam was a true patriot. A well read and intelligent man, he was passionate about current events, politics and religious issues. He loved a good debate but to take him on, one needed to be well informed. His interests were varied. He enjoyed working in his gardens and doing lawn care, skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer, listening to all types of music, reading, and attending Mass. He was a member of the church choir in East Barre and loved to sing. He relished telling a good story, had a wonderful quirky sense of humor, was not ashamed to cry if emotions got the best of him and was very proud of his years spent as a policeman and as a Marine serving his country. He was a dear and gentle man who will be missed by his family whom he loved very much.
He was predeceased by his wife Jacqueline; brothers, Gerald Baker, Paul Baker and Bernard Baker and sisters, Lorraine Lepage and Dorothy Roy.
To honor his wishes, a private committal will take place Thursday with full military honors at the Vermont Veteran's Cemetery in East Randolph with a Mass of Christian burial to follow in St. Sylvester Church in Graniteville. There are no calling hours.
Published in Times Argus from November 7 to November 8, 2011
Born Aug. 26, 1922, in Manchester, N.H., he was the son of Samuel G. and Yvonne (Harbour) Baker Sr. At an early age, his family moved to Berlin, N.H. where he attended school. He dropped out of school in the 10th grade to go to work to help support his family working at odd jobs in the Berlin area.
On Oct. 30, 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served aboard the newly launched aircraft carrier, USS Lexington, during World War II. He was a gunnery operator and fought in battles throughout the Pacific Theater and the South China Sea. After the war ended, the Lexington supported the supply drops to U.S. prisoner of war camps on Honshu and the occupation of Japan until leaving Tokyo Bay on Dec. 3 with homebound veterans to San Francisco, where he was discharged Dec. 19, 1945.
On Sept. 27, 1947, Sam married Jacqueline F. Desjardin in St. Jean the Baptist Church in Manchester, N.H. Following their marriage, they lived on the West Side in new apartments built to accommodate GI's returning home from the war.
Without a high school diploma, he was given permission to take the college entrance exam for St. Anselm's College in Manchester and passed with the highest grade. While attending college, he served on the Manchester Police Force graduating in 1953, with a bachelor of science degree in economics.
In 1955, Sam moved his family to Barre and went to work for the William H. Rorer Pharmaceutical Co. While in Barre, he was an active member of St. Monica Catholic Church serving on the parish council, as an usher for Sunday Mass and as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also was active in the beginning stages of the Canadian Club, a member of the Country Club and the Elks Club all of Barre. Along with his wife Jackie, he was involved in the Fresh Air Program, organizing families to host inner city children during the summer. In 1971, he moved back to Manchester and began a career as a supervisor at the Youth Development Center. He received great satisfaction in his work helping troubled kids retiring in 1987 and moving to St. Petersburg, Fla. After his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, they moved to East Barre to live with their daughter and caregiver.
Sam was a true patriot. A well read and intelligent man, he was passionate about current events, politics and religious issues. He loved a good debate but to take him on, one needed to be well informed. His interests were varied. He enjoyed working in his gardens and doing lawn care, skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer, listening to all types of music, reading, and attending Mass. He was a member of the church choir in East Barre and loved to sing. He relished telling a good story, had a wonderful quirky sense of humor, was not ashamed to cry if emotions got the best of him and was very proud of his years spent as a policeman and as a Marine serving his country. He was a dear and gentle man who will be missed by his family whom he loved very much.
He was predeceased by his wife Jacqueline; brothers, Gerald Baker, Paul Baker and Bernard Baker and sisters, Lorraine Lepage and Dorothy Roy.
To honor his wishes, a private committal will take place Thursday with full military honors at the Vermont Veteran's Cemetery in East Randolph with a Mass of Christian burial to follow in St. Sylvester Church in Graniteville. There are no calling hours.
Published in Times Argus from November 7 to November 8, 2011
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