Mr. John W. Baker's Obituary
John W. Baker, 79, of Pearland, died March 17, 2012 at his home from pancreatic cancer. The youngest of three children was born to Cleo and Henry Baker on April 18, 1932. John was saved and ordained to the ministry at the First Baptist Church of Childress. After graduating from Childress High School in 1950, John attended Howard Payne College on a football scholarship. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Math and Bible in May of 1954. He then attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Divinity. John and Joyce Alice Barnes met at HPC and were married on June 19, 1954. Together, they served Baptist churches in Eliasville, Bridgeport and Waco, Texas for 10 years. After moving to Pearland, John went to work at the newly created Manned Spacecraft Center. He then worked in the telecommunications industry for the next 33 years. John was preceded in death by his parents, Cleo Goldie Grundy Baker and Henry Martin Baker, Sr.; brother, Henry Martin Baker, Jr.; and infant son, Bruce Wayne Baker. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce Alice Barnes Baker, and his sister, Mary Kate Holland, of Childress. He leaves children Vicky Lee of Pearland, Britt Baker and wife, Beverly of Pearland, and Brad Baker and wife, Janet of Longview. His grandchildren are Christopher Lee and wife, Christy, Sean Lee and wife, Tyann, Brittany Baker and Brandon Baker. Great-grandchildren include Ryan Lee, Lorelei Lee and Harrison Lee. John also leaves numerous nieces and nephews and close family friend, Debbie French. Visitation will be at South Park Funeral Home in Pearland, Texas from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The funeral will be held at South Park Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 12:30 p.m., with W. A. "Sonny" Steed officiating. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Christopher, Sean and Brandon, along with former son-in-law Michael Lee, and friends Don Sherwood and Rick Lowrance. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery.
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