Dale Baker

Biography

Dale Baker, 74, of Blum died Thursday, September 15, 2011, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 19, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Pastor Charles Parker officiating. Burial will follow in Itasca Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the service.

Dale was born July 8, 1937 in Keiser, AR. He worked for McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis in 1966. He helped build the first Space Capsule that went to the moon. After 31 years, he retired from Union Pacific Railroad as a Federal Inspector. He was of the Baptist faith.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Walter and Maggie Baker, two brothers, Bufford and Vernon Baker; and three sisters, Beatrice Ward, Lillie Tharp, and Betty Hays.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Baker of Blum; four sons, Randy Baker of Tyler, Allen Baker of Hoopston, IL, Gary Sutton of Cleveland, TX, and Bobby Baker of Cleveland, TX; one step-son, Clinton McConnell of Burleson; six daughters, Kay Atten of Frisco, Jeanne Yensull of Oklahoma, Penny Robinson of Wiley, Verna Compton of Hoopston, IL, Teresa Rodriguez of Cleveland, TX, and Debbie Biccum of Cleveland, TX; two step-daughters, Kim Cruz of Granbury and Stacey Brown of Northport, FL; three brothers, Billy Baker of Joshua, Harold Baker of Hollandale, MS, and Jay Baker of Fremont, MS; one sister, Pug West of Dalton, GA; 26 grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.