William Baker

Services for William Hunter Baker, 92, of Thomasville will be held 2:00PM on Sunday, September 21, 2014 in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Burns Willis and Rev. Ronnie Wills will officiate and interment will be held at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Mr. Baker passed away on September 17, 2014 at Archbold Memorial Hospital. Born February 21, 1922 in Columbus, GA, Bill was the son of the late William Hunter Baker, Sr. and Ethel Knight Baker. He attended public schools in Columbus and Muskogee County. Mr. Baker joined the Army in 1940 for one year. He attended Auburn University in 1941 until he reenlisted in the Army in 1942 (Corps of Engineers). Mr. Baker attended and graduated from the Infantry Officers Candidate School on July 16, 1943. He joined the 78th Infantry Division in 1943 and went to the UK in April of 1944. He continued his journey through Europe when he went to Normandy France on June 19, 1944. Due to excessive casualties on D Day, he was detailed into the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Baker joined an Engineer Treadway Bridge Company (assault bridge) and served until May 07, 1945. Mr. Baker crossed rivers, canals, and bomb craters from Normandy to the Elbe River in Germany. There are few rivers in Northern France and Eastern Germany that did not enjoy the presence of a bridge from the 989th Engineer Treadway Bridge Co. First Lt. Baker returned to the States in 1945 and was separated from the service. He joined the Active Ready Reserve in 1945 and was retired from service in 1967 as Lt. Col. Infantry (US Army). Following Mr. Baker military career he continued to be involved through leadership positions in the Military Order of the World Wars. Upon separation from the service, he entered the University of Georgia and graduated in September of 1947 with a BS Degree in Education. He also earned a Master of Education Degree in 1951. Mr. Baker was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi (Honorary Fraternities) at UGA. He taught at Moultrie High School from 1947 to 1954. From 1954 until 1955, he served as Assistant Principle and teacher in Camilla High School. Mr. Baker joined Taylor Publishing Company as a yearbook representative in 1955 and remained in the publishing business until his retirement in 1991. In February of 1991, he married Nan Arwood Morris, who survives. They moved to Thomasville on May 08, 2007 and joined First United Methodist Church of Thomasville. Other survivors include sister Martha Velasquez of Columbus and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 20, 2014 from 4PM until 6PM at the funeral home. Donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Thomasville P.O. Box 975, Thomasville, GA 31799 or Mrs. Kitty Feline Sanctuary, P.O. Box 22, Thomasville, GA 31799 . Guests may sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .