May 25, 2007
Rex McClain Baker Jr., 80, of Zionsville, died at home of cancer related illness on May 25 2007.
Rex was the husband of Elisabeth Moore Baker for 53 years. His education included The George School, Clemson A and M and Lehigh University. He served in World War II, primarily in the Philippines, as a Sergeant in the Army Air Force. Careers included self-employed farmer, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Cryotherm Inc., Beyer Barber Inc., a Career Agent and Chartered Life Underwriter with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company Inc., and opening a branch office with Raymond James Financial Services Inc. from which he retired in 1990. He has been a member and supporter of service organizations and active in local government throughout his 63 years living in the Lehigh Valley.Survivors: Wife, Elisabeth; sons Rex M. Baker III, of Harrisville, N.H., Michael M. Baker and James R. Baker of Zionsville; daughter-in-law Pamela Long Baker; granddaughter Gwennyth Ann Baker of Harrisville, N.H.; brother John B. Baker and his wife Mary Taylor Baker of Timonium, Md. Services: There will be no services, interment will be private. Schantz Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of the arrangements.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh. The family will greet friends after the service in the church Gathering Place.
Note: the following letter is from Dave and Lucia Powell
Friends of Rex Baker:
A week ago today we lost a great friend, the one and only Rex Baker. The many ways we will miss him are countless, each of us with stories and manifestations of his friendship that we will always treasure.
When someone asked Betty if there was a way some of us might want to contribute financially to his memory, she suggested the Dickinson Library in Northfield, a place that both Betty and Rex supported as readers, and Betty also as a volunteer worker.
Lucia and I were in Northfield for a couple of days this week and happened to meet Deb, the marvelous head librarian at Dickinson Library. We told her about Rex’s passing and asked her what might be appropriate as a gift in Rex’s memory. She told us that as soon as the construction of the elevator was completed in December 2007, there were plans to create a “Northfield History Room” on the second floor. Interestingly, in addition to many local documents, a computer and a microfilm collection and associated furniture, it will include all the Rustic Ridge historical material which was formerly in Dolben Library. (Gert Lauber’s minutes will find a permanent home!)
In talking to Deb, she strongly supported this collective idea, and said she could establish a separate fund for contributions in Rex’s memory. Instead of some of us sending a check to the library for general use, we thought together we might use such a fund for some specific need in the new Northfield History Room.
If you would like to share in this memorial, Deb asked if you would make a check out to: “Dickinson Memorial Library” and include in the “memo” section: “Rex Baker Memorial Fund”. The mailing address is: 115 Main Street, Northfield, MA 01360. Deb will establish a separate account for such contributions. When the needs of the new Northfield History Room have been identified, she will contact Betty for advice on what the Bakers might deem appropriate for Rex’s memory.
In case you don’t have Betty’s address, and would like to contact her (she’s not a great user of email!) Box 8, Zionsville, PA 18092
Till our paths cross this summer,
With heavy heart,
Dave and Lucia