Irving Baker
Irving Baker, 85, passed away September 30, 2009, in Ozark Riverview Manor, in Ozark, Mo. He was born August 6, 1924, to James and Sybil (Hensley) Baker, in Tulare, Calif. He attended school at Hartville High School and Willard High School. Irving served in the Army from March, 1943, to March, 1946, and was involved in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns of World War II. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. Irving married Helen Wynn on April 4, 1946. He was a driver for Kraft Foods for over 30 years and retired in 1984. Irving loved the outdoors and spent much of his retirement riding horses, fishing and hunting. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Ozark. Irving was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents; a sister, Velma Baker; and two children, David Irving Baker and Johnny Dean Baker. He is survived by daughter Janice Berg of Ozark, Mo.; son James Baker and his wife, DaJuana of Ozark, Mo.; his sister and her husband, Wilma Jean and Bill Nichols; five grandchildren, Suzan Collins, Keith Mooney, Renee Roussell, Amber Del Gaiso and Christy Sandwell; and eight great-grandchildren, Clarey, Tucker, and Sawyer Collins, Brandon and Kyle Mooney, and Jeremy, Kayla, and Jacob Roussell. Memorial services will take place on Friday, October 2, at 11:30 a.m., in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, with graveside services for Irving and Helen following at 1 p.m., in Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery, Springfield, Mo. Visitation will precede the memorial service from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the funeral home. The family would like to thank the staff of Ozark Riverview Manor for their wonderful care.