William Edward Baker Jr., 83, passed away May 26, 2016 after a lengthy battle with heart disease. Bill, or Buz as family and friends knew him, loved life and fought hard to preserve his own right to the end.
Buz Baker was born in Poughkeepsie, NY on January 17, 1933. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1952, at the age of 19, and retired in 1972 as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. He served two tours of duty in Viet Nam. Upon his retirement he moved his wife and three sons from Alexandria, VA to Oroville, CA, where he lived until his move to Arizona in 2013.
He loved wood working, organic gardening, canning emergency food rations, and he loved to help people. He especially loved being an organizer. He will be sorely missed.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Baker, Mesa, AZ and his three sons Mark Baker, San Tan Valley, AZ, Rodney Baker, Gilbert, AZ, and Glenn Baker, Lincoln, CA, grandsons Mark S. Baker II, Mesa, AZ and William G. Baker, NC, and three great-grandsons, Mark S. Baker III, Jonathan D. Baker, Joseph A. Baker, and one great-granddaughter, Diane D. Baker. Buz was also known as Uncle Bus (or Bussy) to his five nephews and one niece, Billy Bauer, TX, John Bauer, Ontario, CA, Bob Bauer, TX, David Bauer, MN, Rick Bauer, ID and Tammy Bauer, Newport Beach, CA. In addition to his biological lineage he has numerous family and friends. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, Mesa, AZ
I’m sorry to hear about your dad, he was a strong man. He will be missed, thinking of you and the family. My condolences and love, Jess and Peggy
Although I hadn’t been able to see Buzz for a number of years, I will always miss my oldest brother and wish that we could have spent more time together as we got older. He and Martha have joined together in heaven by now and life was blessed for their having been here.