Obituary for Jimmy B. Baker
A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Jimmy B. Baker at 2:00 pm Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home with Reverend Eric Keller and Reverend Alan Seibel officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Jim was born March 17, 1932, the son of Ted and Lena (Landwehr) Baker, and was born and raised on the family farm southwest of Waukomis, Oklahoma. He passed away in Mercy Hospital on June 6, 2021. He attended Morning Star Country School for the first eight grades and then attended Waukomis High School, graduating in 1950. He attended Enid Business College from August 1950 through May 1952, while working part time for Groendyke Trucking Co. Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army in October 1952 and served two years in the 505th Military Police Battalion, stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Upon being discharged, he returned to Enid and was employed by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety as a communications officer for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He was later promoted to Chief Radio Communication Officer, where he served twenty-seven and a half years, retiring in 1982. Jim was involved in farming the family farms during his employment with the OHP, and continued farming full-time until retiring in 1999. In 1994, Jim and his brother Royce were awarded the Bankers Soil Conservation Award and later Oklahoma Centennial Farm Award.
On November 6, 1955, Jim married Rosa Ann Weida at Bethany Evangelical Church and made their home in Enid. A year later they moved to Waukomis. They had two children, Jimmy Dean and Jina Ann Baker. Jim and Rosa have been married for sixty-five years. Jim was a member of Waukomis Methodist Church, and Waukomis Lions Club until it’s closing in 2002. He was a member of The Board of Directors of the Waukomis Co-op for several years and serving as President and Secretary of the Board. Jim and his family moved to Enid in 1981 and became members of Oakwood Christian Church. He was a volunteer worker in the construction of classrooms at the church and building of the Bus Barn, The Rock House and The Oakwood Activity Center. He was also a volunteer worker in the operation of the OAC from it’s opening until ill health caused him to quit in August 2008. Jim is survived by his wife Rosa, a son Jim and his wife Cindy, daughter Jina and her husband Doug Kapka; three grandchildren, Tanner Baker and his wife Stefani, Chase Baker of Oklahoma City, Anne Meredith Kapka of Norman; two great-grandchildren, Sofie Jane Baker and Callen Quin, sister-in-law Elizabeth Baker of Edmond, brother-in-law Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ralph Weida of Vacaville, California; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Lena, brother Royce, brother-in-law Rudy Weida and his wife Linda, and sister-in-law Diana Weida, and his favorite father and mother-in-law, William and Elsie Weida.
Memorials may be made to Oakwood Christian Church c/o Seekers Sunday School Class, Enid SPCA, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodians of the funds.
Condolences may be made online and the service may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com .
Jim was born March 17, 1932, the son of Ted and Lena (Landwehr) Baker, and was born and raised on the family farm southwest of Waukomis, Oklahoma. He passed away in Mercy Hospital on June 6, 2021. He attended Morning Star Country School for the first eight grades and then attended Waukomis High School, graduating in 1950. He attended Enid Business College from August 1950 through May 1952, while working part time for Groendyke Trucking Co. Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army in October 1952 and served two years in the 505th Military Police Battalion, stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Upon being discharged, he returned to Enid and was employed by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety as a communications officer for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He was later promoted to Chief Radio Communication Officer, where he served twenty-seven and a half years, retiring in 1982. Jim was involved in farming the family farms during his employment with the OHP, and continued farming full-time until retiring in 1999. In 1994, Jim and his brother Royce were awarded the Bankers Soil Conservation Award and later Oklahoma Centennial Farm Award.
On November 6, 1955, Jim married Rosa Ann Weida at Bethany Evangelical Church and made their home in Enid. A year later they moved to Waukomis. They had two children, Jimmy Dean and Jina Ann Baker. Jim and Rosa have been married for sixty-five years. Jim was a member of Waukomis Methodist Church, and Waukomis Lions Club until it’s closing in 2002. He was a member of The Board of Directors of the Waukomis Co-op for several years and serving as President and Secretary of the Board. Jim and his family moved to Enid in 1981 and became members of Oakwood Christian Church. He was a volunteer worker in the construction of classrooms at the church and building of the Bus Barn, The Rock House and The Oakwood Activity Center. He was also a volunteer worker in the operation of the OAC from it’s opening until ill health caused him to quit in August 2008. Jim is survived by his wife Rosa, a son Jim and his wife Cindy, daughter Jina and her husband Doug Kapka; three grandchildren, Tanner Baker and his wife Stefani, Chase Baker of Oklahoma City, Anne Meredith Kapka of Norman; two great-grandchildren, Sofie Jane Baker and Callen Quin, sister-in-law Elizabeth Baker of Edmond, brother-in-law Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ralph Weida of Vacaville, California; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Lena, brother Royce, brother-in-law Rudy Weida and his wife Linda, and sister-in-law Diana Weida, and his favorite father and mother-in-law, William and Elsie Weida.
Memorials may be made to Oakwood Christian Church c/o Seekers Sunday School Class, Enid SPCA, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Guiding Eyes for the Blind with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodians of the funds.
Condolences may be made online and the service may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com