Francis D. "Frank" Baker's Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Francis D. (Frank) Baker of New Port Richey, Florida. He had been in declining health and passed away on Easter Sunday, April 21, surrounded by family.
He was born in McAllister, Oklahoma, on November 15, 1927 to Lee Alva and Anna Bel Baker. The family moved to Longview, Washington, in 1934 where he grew up with younger sister Betty and younger brother Bill. He enlisted in the Navy upon graduating high school and served as a corpsman for two years. After the Navy, he attended Lower Columbia Community College where he met the love of his life, Marie Nielsen. They married and moved to Utah where they raised three children, Michael, Greg and Tina. Frank finished his college degree at Brigham Young University. The family moved to Federal Way, Washington in 1965 and three years later to Olympia, Washington. After fourteen years in Olympia, he and Marie moved to Seattle. After retirement they split their time between Spokane and New Port Richey to be near their children and to enjoy better weather and more golf. Frank and Marie would have celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this coming August.
Professionally, Frank Baker left a positive impact wherever he worked. He changed the lives of many with his progressive thinking from the days in hospital administration to the director of a state home for the mentally disabled and the Regional head of the National Association for Retarded Children; he served the State of Washington for 15 years heading various Agencies and the Washington Hospital Commission. He finished his career as an executive with the Washington State Hospital Association.
He survived by his wife, Marie, his children, his brother and sister, two grandsons and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Memorial Gardens on Friday, May 3rd, at 2:00pm. The family will receive visitors an hour prior, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
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