More detail on this person: Lafayette Journal &
Courier, Aug. 16, 2011
Richard Dean Baker, 65, of Fort Myers, Fla.,
formerly of Buck Creek, died Friday morning, Aug.
12, 2011.
He was born in Lafayette on June 8, 1946, and was
the son of the late James Wayne and Maxine
Louise Reynolds Baker.
Mr. Baker graduated from East Tippecanoe High
School in 1964 and attended Indiana State
University, where he was a member of Lambda Chi
Alpha fraternity.
He married Kay Anne Byers of Romney on May 6,
1967, and she survives.
He joined the military in 1966, completed flight
school and basic training, and was initially
stationed in Vietnam. He was a chief warrant
officer 2 in the Army, 174th Assault Helicopter
Company ("Sharks"), stationed in Vietnam. He later
was stationed near Stuttgart, Germany,
accompanied by his wife. After an honorable
discharge from the Army, he joined the Army
Reserve in Indianapolis, where he served for many
years. He obtained additional commercial pilot
ratings for single- and multi-engine land
airplanes and instrument rating.
Mr. Baker then went on to complete air traffic
control training in Indianapolis, working as an
air traffic controller for 14 years at towers at
Indianapolis center, Alton tower, Aurora tower and
Purdue University tower.
In 1984, Mr. Baker and his family moved to Fort
Myers, where he worked for Lee County Mosquito
Control District as a helicopter pilot, later
became an inspector and an entomological aid. He
also obtained his Merchant Marine officer
captain's license from the Coast Guard.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and
friends, boating, camping, playing cards,
crossword puzzles and was a longtime fan of
Purdue University basketball and football.
Surviving with his wife are a daughter, Kerri Anne
Baker of Mulberry; a son, Andrew Wayne Baker of
Fort Myers; two sisters, Margaret Gross (husband:
Thornton) of Piedmont, S.C., and Sara Roberts
Marriott of Mulberry; and a brother, Thomas Wayne
Baker (wife: Carole) of Mulberry.
Also surviving are a mother-in-law, Clara Rosa
Byers of Romney; 2 sisters-in-law, Mary Lou
(Byers) Miller of Carmel, Calif., and Marsha Rose
Byers of Romney; and nieces, nephews and
cousins. Preceded in death by his parents; a
sister, Patricia Lou; and a nephew, James Dean
Roberts.
A visitation will be held at Soller-Baker Funeral
Home in Lafayette on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011,
between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The funeral
service will be held Aug. 21, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.
by the Rev. Clayton Kendall. Interment will follow
in the Fairhaven Cemetery.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association