Carl Baker

On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, we said our last “byes” to our husband and dad. He is finally free of the debilitating effects of the Parkinsonism he was diagnosed with seven years ago. Carl is predeceased by his parents, Louise and Carlton Baker, and his brother, Elwood Baker. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Baker, daughters Lynn (John Renehan), Gail, Kim, and Teri (Jim Miller), and many nieces and nephews.

Carl grew up in Pleasantville, NY. As a child, he traveled with his mother and father to Trinidad where his father was “engaged in defense work”. Carl often talked about how he enjoyed his time in Trinidad and wanted to return. He loved to swim and, when older, participated in exhibition diving at the local pool. In college, he began his studies in circuitry design and was a cheerleader. Carl then joined the Army and became a certified parachutist. While in the Reserves, he attended school to become a mechanical draftsman (the career he retired from). He went back to Pleasantville after being discharged and there he met Nancy, a lifeguard at the local pool he frequented. They married in 1960, moved to California, and settled in Burbank where they welcomed four daughters. While on the west coast, Carl’s pastimes included league bowling, camping, and taking day trips to the beach with all of his girls. He also earned a certificate for Specialized Airline Training. In 1971, Carl and Nancy made the cross-country trek to bring their family to College Park, Maryland. Here, camping continued to be an activity Carl enjoyed, along with putt-putt golf, bowling, visiting friends in Virginia, and working on home improvements. Having a mechanical mind, he liked to create miscellaneous contraptions that improved daily life around the house. To keep up with the changing technology in drafting, Carl took evening classes for AutoCAD when he was in his 60’s.

He was a good and honest man who worked hard to support his family. He was a dedicated husband and father who will be greatly missed.

Our family will be forever grateful to the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate and staff of Sacred Heart Home in Hyattsville, MD for all of the care and comfort they gave Carl during his residency in their facility. We also thank them for all of the support they provided us over this last year. They were truly a blessing.

For these reasons, we ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Carl’s name to Sacred Heart Home’s Caring Heart Fund or Renovation and Expansion Fund, http://www.sacredhearthome.org/giving.php. Thank you.

● To donate online, use the “Donate” button at the bottom of the giving page (http://www.sacredhearthome.org/giving.php) and then enter Carl’s name and the fund to which you wish to donate in the “Add special instructions” section.

● To send a donation by check, put Carl’s name and the fund name in the memo portion of the check. Mail to Sacred Heart Home, Attention Sister Vacha, 5805 Queens Chapel Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782.