Raymond Frank Baker

Ray is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary “Kay” Walsh Baker, originally of Tucson, Arizona; his children, Raymond Charles and his wife Linda Lee, Thomas Mark and his wife Lisa Renee, and Jennifer Kay and her husband Brian Davis; and four grandchildren: Raymond William, Alex Charles Baker, Zachary Tyler, Amara Kay Davis. Ray was the youngest surviving child of Frank and Anna Baker. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Anna Baker “Baka”, his brothers John, Frank, Mike and Pete and his sisters, Ann, Mary and Helen all of Chicago.

Raymond was born at home on December 23, 1928. He was baptized a Byzantine Catholic along with the rest of his siblings. He attended Gage Park High School but graduated from Tilden Tech High School where he played football and was a standout half back. In 1949, he received football scholarships to Stanford and Bradley Universities. Raymond attended Bradley where he spent one year before enlisting in the military at the height of the Korean War. He spent four years in the US Air Force working on radar system electronics and playing the bugle at reveille. Ray’s service took him to England and North Africa. He met Kay “Irish” at a USO Dance in Tucson, Arizona. They married on April 17, 1955 and started their lives together in Chicago. Ray completed college at Roosevelt University, studying electronic / electrical engineering before graduating with a degree in Electronics. He accepted a position as an electrical engineer at International Harvester Research and Development Labs on Western Ave in Chicago. Raymond was proud of his work at the International Research Center where he was working on innovative engine wear diagnostic methods using isotope to measure engine ring wear. He worked at IH for more than 30 years, retiring from the East Moline plant as the Plant Manager of Welding. He adjusted to retirement by working part time for Sears Manufacturing in Muscatine as the Manager of Training. Raymond was a member of the American Welding Society as well as the American Legion.

Ray and Kay belonged to fishing and swimming clubs in Chicago, Lilly Cache and in the Quad Cities 40&8, where they enjoyed spending time with friends and family. He loved animals, raising homing and tumbler pigeons throughout his life. He was proud of a blue check he raised that finished first and set a club record for flying 1000 miles in a single day. His passion for animals included pigeons, chickens, rabbits, fish and dogs. He enjoyed fishing at Lock and Dam No 14 on the Mississippi River, always finding a way to catch a striper or walleye before calling it a day. Ray and Kay enjoyed the riverboats; Ray was an avid craps player and would always win a few bucks to spot Kay so she could play the slots a little longer. Ray enjoyed watching a good John Wayne or Clint Eastwood western to wind down after a day on the riverboats. He will be remembered as a strong man, a good father who cared for his family and friends.

A private funeral is scheduled for October 13th at 11am at the Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery with Military Honors. If you are wanting to attend, the family asks that you RSVP to: [email protected]. The family would also like to thank Compassus Hospice for their care and compassion shown to our father and husband. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: Greek Catholic Union Foundation, 5400 Tuscarawas Road, Beaver, PA 15009. www.gcuusa.com/pages/gcu-charitable-causes