William Joseph Baker, age 80, of Arcadia, died Thursday evening December 26, 2013 at West Shore Medical Center.
He was born March 21, 1933 in Rockford, Illinois, the son of the late John Roscoe and Edith Minnie (McCabe) Baker. He graduated from Bear Lake High School in the Class of 1951. On January 21, 1954, he married Myrna McArthur at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockford, IL. He attended Senior NCO Military Academy in 1972 and received an Associate’s Degree from Brevard Community College in 1980.
William served in the military as a cameraman from 1952 to 1975; first in the US Navy during the Korean Occupation and then in the US Air Force during the Vietnam Combat Era earning 10 air medals and the Vietnam Service Medal.
From 1975 to 1980 Bill was employed by NBC News in Orlando, Florida and from 1980 to 1996 as a cameraman for a NASA contractor.
Bill was a member of the VFW Post # 3314, the Lions Club, a Mason-Master, Air Force Sergeants Association and the Air Force Association. He enjoyed woodworking and photography.
He is survived by his wife, Myrna McArthur of Arcadia; sons, Michael David Baker of Mims, FL, Curtis John (Suzanne Landry) Baker of Arcadia; daughter, Sandra Ruth (Jeffrey) Corneil of Kingston, WA; grandchildren, Joshua Daniel Corneil (Maria Greene) of Seattle, WA, Ty Christopher Baker of Rockledge, FL, Sarah Ruth Corneil of Olympia, WA, Rachel Ann Baker of Orlando, FL, Geoffrey Andrew Baker and Jean Luc William Baker both of Beaumont, TX; great-grandchildren, Lexi Leanne & Leah Nicole Baker, Aiden Francis Corneil, Kevin James Baker-Schoen; and sister, Nila Jane Dye of Cocoa, FL.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Daniel David Baker.
Cremation has taken place and Military Graveside services will be held in the Spring of 2014 at Conway Cemetery in Arcadia conducted by VFW Post 3314 and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guards.
Memorial contribution in memory of William may be directed to VFW Post # 3314 ; PO Box 122; Arcadia MI 49613.