Robert C. Baker

Robert C. Baker died October 31, 2011, in Denver at the age of 91. He was born May 2, 1920 in Canton, Ohio, to the late Roy and Hazel Angerman Baker. He attended schools in Dover, Ohio, graduating in 1939. Bob briefly attended Ohio State University before enlisting in 1941 in the United States Marines Corps. Boot camp was at Parris Island, South Carolina, then Quantico, Virginia, before he was sent to the South Pacific where he saw duty in Wellington, New Zealand, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and other South Pacific islands. He primarily was a clarinetist with the 1st Division Marine Band throughout his service, but he also served in some military actions in the Pacific. He was discharged in November 1945. Before his discharge, he met his wife, Margaret Tilton, on Valentine?s Day at Cherry Point, North Carolina at the U.S. Marine Corps base. She also was a Marine. They married Feb. 10, 1946, in Kaycee, Wyoming. They lived in several places including, Dover, Ohio; Casper, Wyoming; and Lander, Wyoming. He long had an interest in the floral business, as he grew up in Ohio with his father?s floral business. After moving to Wyoming, he worked for Standard Oil in Casper, owned a floral business for a short time in Lander, and ultimately moved to Bountiful, Utah, with a wholesale floral business. He also worked for Boeing Company in Utah, from which he retired in 1982. Upon retirement, he and Margaret moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, in 1981, to be near their daughters and grandchildren. Margaret passed away in August of 1987. Bob was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins where he sang in the choir for many years. He also was a member of the Fort Collins Senior Center where he helped serve meals. He was a 47-year Master Mason and a member of Fidelity Lodge #192 for nearly thirty years. He served as ?Tiler Emeritus? of Fidelity Lodge for fifteen years. He also was a member of the El Jebel Shrine and the Marine Corps League. He played clarinet for the Northern Colorado Concert Band and the Loveland Concert Band until just two years ago. He is survived by four fun-loving daughters who inherited his sense of humor, love of life, and love for their families: Ruth Bruce Most of Denver, Colorado; Sharon Tim Sussex of LaGrange, Wyoming; Sherrill Jerry Helzer of Torrington, Wyoming; and Mary Jo Baker of Denver. He also had six grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife, one sister, one brother, and one granddaughter. Memorial services for Robert Charles Baker will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel.