George Richard Baker

George Richard Baker, 84, passed away Friday, May 20, 2011.

George was born February 26, 1927 in Nacogdoches, Texas to Arthur Gilbert Baker and Helen Lucille Cockle. At age three his family moved to California. During WW II he served stateside in the Navy. After his service, he used the GI Bill to attend Cal Poly, where he earned his bachelor''s degree in Electronic and Radio Engineering. While attending college, he read the Book of Mormon, gained a testimony of the Gospel and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 19, 1950. He later served a full-time mission in the French Polynesian (Tahitian) Mission from 1958-1961. Throughout the rest of his life he often spoke of a chronic homesickness for Tahiti.

In 1968 George moved to Utah to work at Hill Air Force Base. He lived for a time in North Ogden and later moved to Kaysville. He met his wife, Ruth Ann Tolman, at a square dancing club in Ogden. They were married on January 5, 1974 in the Ogden LDS Temple. He served as a temple worker for 25 years. He also had a lifelong love of trains and passed that love on to his grandchildren.

George is survived by his wife and five children: Ann Mahana (Javier) Romero, Nibley; Benjamin Ariki (Mickelle) Baker, Riverton; Connie Tiare (Dan) Nay, Syracuse; Deborah Maeva (Adam) Hansen, Soda Springs, ID; Eilene Kata (Stephen) Rasmussen, Klamath Falls, OR; and eleven grandchildren whom he adored. He is also survived by a brother, James Lewis Baker, Eureka, CA; and a sister-in-law, Star Rhea Baker, Wenatchee, WA. George was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Kaysville Central Stake Center, 555 North Fairfield Road (100 East), Kaysville. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday evening, May 25, from 6 - 8 pm, at Kaysville Lindquist Mortuary, 400 North Main and Thursday, May 26, at the church from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the funeral services.

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.