John Baker

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, son of Eloise Aycock, John graduated Airline high school where he supported himself with a strong work ethic. After high school, John enlisted in the United States Navy and served as the Brigade Commander of his recruit training class rising to the ranks of Petty Officer Second Class. Honorably Discharged in 1973, John then began his time studying at university with proud thanks to the GI Bill. As a lifelong Louisiana State University fan, John studied at LSU and had a strong talent and interest in electronics. John worked throughout his college career, supporting himself and graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

John started a corporate career as a talented Electrical Engineer. He worked in over 30 different countries, and lived in four of those countries with his wife, Dianne. John later retired having reached Senior Staff Electrical Engineer with Exxon Chemical when they continued travelling the world and enjoying their home in West University, Texas.

John’s life had a defining moment when he went on a blind date in 1984 and met the love of his life, Dianne, in Baytown, Texas. John and Dianne married on February 2, 1985, and began a life together with John’s two sons and Dianne’s three daughters; a family they lovingly called “The Baker Bunch.”

John was a true family man that many may have said bit off more than he could chew with five kids. But he and Dianne were soulmates like no others and enjoyed family times with all of them together. John and Dianne even took all five kids along with them on their honeymoon to the Bahamas where John surprised them all with a Pink Panther-themed limousine ride from the airport.

Through thirty-seven years of marriage and family, John wore titles of John Dahling, Dad, U-Dad, and PawPaw. As a PawPaw, John was one who was more than present. He attended baseball games, basketball games, track meets, plays, recitals, and more. Most people in his grandkids schools knew John on a fist name basis…”PawPaw”. At holidays, family gatherings, and vacations, John would faithfully lead the family in prayer with everyone hand-in-hand. He had special connections, humor, and love for each of them individually. He was always nurturing their gifts and talents and loved to share his also. John was a pilot, a talented artist, beautiful self-studied saxophone player, gourmet chef, avid astronomer, he spoke several languages, was a sailor and boatsman, and loved fishing with his son, son-in-law, and grandkids. Of all these talents, none was greater than his ability to build a family and lead them to Christ.

While living abroad in Singapore with Dianne, John had another defining moment where he rededicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the most important, life-altering passion of John’s heart. He spent the rest of his days deepening his relationship with the Lord. He made it his mission to make sure all of his children and grandchildren knew the way of salvation through Christ Jesus. John attended seminary at Baptist Theological Seminary of Singapore and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary of Houston. He was a guest pastor at Mount Houston Baptist church and spoke on the love of Christ in five different countries. John was also a devoted Gideon and was known to hand out Bibles to friends, children, homeless, and just about anyone he could share the gospel with.

If there is one thing that can be a testament to his life, it is that John loved the Lord our God, he loved and cherished his wife, Dianne, and he loved and adored his children and grandchildren, and in that order.

John is preceded in death by his mother, Eloise Aycock, and father Frank Baker, Jr.

John is survived by his wife, Dianne Baker; sister, Janice Turber and husband Bob; daughter, Ronda Holladay and husband Taylor; daughter, Sherri Hathaway and husband Ken; daughter, Erica Gillum; son, Regan Baker and wife Dana; son, Ryan Baker and wife Renee. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Caroline Smith and husband Ross; Walker Richard and wife Savanna; Reese Hathaway, Max Palermo, Grace Hathaway, Jack Holladay, Olivia and Audrey Baker. Great grandchildren Dean and Hinson Richard.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from nine o’clock until eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 25th of September, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation at eleven o’clock in the adjacent Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons.

The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, at Sterling-White Cemetery in Highlands, Texas, where military honors will be performed at half-past one o’clock in the afternoon.