Jimmy Clyde Baker

A native of Oklahoma, Jimmy was the oldest child born to George Ellis Baker and Venitta Fay (Warren) Baker. He was born in Oklahoma City and reared in Norman. In his youth, he worked for the Norman Transcript as a photographer. Jimmy graduated from Norman High School in 1960, then went on to attend the University of Oklahoma, earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1967. In 1969, Jimmy married Cynthia Calkins at First Christian Church in Norman. They would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary this year. The couple was blessed with three daughters Amy, Désha, and Leigh.

During his long career with Westinghouse and Grumman, Jimmy worked on some of the most cutting-edge technologies of the time. His projects included design work on the ion engine for a proposed Mars mission, nuclear powered submarines, the Clinch River nuclear breeder reactor, fusion reactor research, satellite and navigation systems, and the Space Station Freedom (the forerunner of the International Space Station). Jimmy's work began in Ohio, and took his family to Idaho, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New York, and Virginia until he and his wife retired and returned to Norman.

Jimmy was adventurous, and enjoyed many activities with family including clogging, square dancing, model airplanes, camping, hiking, canoeing, fly-fishing, photography, and boardgames. He also had a passion for genealogy, documenting the Warren and McMinn family histories back to the Mayflower and European origins.

Jimmy is survived by his wife of 57 years Cynthia Baker; daughter Amy Baker-Watt; daughter Désha Lang and husband Jon; daughter Leigh Loder and husband Blaine; three grandchildren Gryphon Baker-Watt, Phoenix Baker-Watt, and Wyatt Loder; brother Curtis Dale Baker and wife Toni; sister Lynda Williams and husband Scott; brother Dennis Baker and wife Sally and their children.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents Venitta and George Baker.