Gerald R. Baker

GERALD R. BAKER, 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 23, 2015, at Lutheran Life Villages where he remained living independently. He remained optimistic about life to the end. Gerald was a lifelong resident of Fort Wayne having grown up near the General Electric plant. As a young man, he set pins at the GE Athletic Club in their bowling alley. He played basketball for Central High and the church league. He started his long career in the construction trades right out of high school with Snell Heating and Air Conditioning. He started his own business, Gerald R. Baker, Builder, Inc., building additions, new homes, and remodeling as well as commercial properties across Fort Wayne and surrounding communities. A job done right was always more important to him than how much or when he was going to be paid. He never asked his employees to do a job he would have been unwilling to do himself. Gerald was especially proud of his transformation of the Gospel Temple on South Calhoun and the custom homes he built for some of Fort Wayne's noted citizens. Even in his retirement years, he and Jane would drive around town to keep up on what was being built. In his retirement, he gave of his time to his church doing repairs on the building and making "JESUS" and "HOPE" signs for the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission and Charis House. Gerald was an avid sports fan watching game after game in his home and listening to them on the radio in his garage. He loved basketball and he attended as many sporting events of his grandchildren as he could. He was a lifelong member of Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren. Gerald and his family had been members of the Smith Street Church of the Brethren prior to building the new church on South Calhoun. He met his wife of 65 years, Jane L. Hoard, while participating in the youth group there. They were married on Nov. 25, 1950. He is survived by his wife, Jane; their four children, Jack (Martha) Baker of Burlington, Wis., Marna (Tom) Ternet, Don (Tina) Baker and Kay (Eldon) Chilcote all of Fort Wayne; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Minerva Baker; brother, DeLoss Baker; and a great-granddaughter, Gabriella Jane Bahr. Service is 1 p.m. Monday, July 27, 2015, at Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren, 6404 S. Calhoun St., with calling one hour prior. Pastor David Bibbee officiating. Guests are invited to join the family on Monday for an 11 a.m. luncheon at the church. Calling also from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2015, at D.O. McComb & Sons Foster Park Funeral Home, 6301 Fairfield Ave. Burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren or the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. The family wishes to thank Heartland Hospice for the compassionate care they received. To sign the online guest book, go to www.domccombandsons.com