Retiree Don Baker dies

Here’s a forgotten tidibt about Donald L. Baker whose obituary appeared on page B6, col. 3 of the Akron Beacon Journal on Saturday, July 1, 2006:

Baker, who retired in 1987 as production director of the Beacon, was in flight training in 1942 in Albany, GA, with Alvah H. Chapman Jr.. who retired a couple of years after Baker as chairman and CEO of Knight Ridder Newspapers.

The photos of the two pilots was in the July/August 1991 issue of Sidebar, the employee publication. You will have to excuse the poor reproduction.

Col. Baker served in the Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot, flying P-39s and P-40s with the 6th Air Force 1941-45. Chapman flew B-17 bombing missions over Europe during World War II and became a squadron commander. By age 23, he was commanding 1,500 men and 29 airplanes for the war effort. "

Here is the obituary for Baker.

FLORIDA -- Donald L. Baker, 85, of Fort Myers, Fla., died suddenly on June 9, 2006.

A son of the late Howard and Ethel Baker, he was born in Atlantic City, N.J., and served in the Army Air Corps as a fighter pilot, flying P-39s and P-40s with the 6th Air Force from 1941 to 1945. He retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1981 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Col. Baker received his degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. He retired in 1987 after having worked in newspaper production since high school, first with the Atlantic City Press, then The Record in Hackensack, N.J., followed by the Baltimore Sun Papers, and completed his newspaper career as production director of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, the former Erma Conover; children, Don Jr. (Nancy), Cathy Herbert (Larry) and Bonnie Baker (Andrew Daigle); eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchil-dren; sister, Jean Kunkely of Absecon, N.J.; and brother, Howard Baker of Mesa, Ariz.

Mr. Baker was a member of Chapel by the Sea in Ft. Myers Beach, was a life member of the American Legion, VFW, was a 32nd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite, Araba Temple, and a past president of Ft. Myers Beach Shrine Club. He organized many annual reunions of the 32nd Fighter Squadron and was a past president of the Fairview Isles Improvement Association.

Memorials may be directed to Chapel by the Sea Memorial Fund, 2010 Hanson St., Fort Myers, Fla. 33901.

[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Saturday, July 1, 2006, page B6, col. 3]