Thomas C Baker
Thomas Carl Baker
1935 ~ 2023
Thomas Carl Baker, 88, a long-time resident of Cumberland, Maryland passed away peacefully at his home with his wife Glenice and his daughter Jennie’s family in North Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13, 2023.
He was born on February 13, 1935 in Whitehall, Montana to LeGrand Joseph Baker and Iris Saunders. His father enlisted in the Navy in 1943 during WWII and during that time “Tommy” and his older brother Walter and younger sister Ruth spent time at their Saunders grandparents in Montana. Tommy also loved living with his Grandmother Baker in St. George, Utah. In addition, Tommy lived with a foster family, the Hawkins, in Benjamin, Utah. He loved them and considered them like his family. After WWII ended, his Father moved to Utah and married Beth Whiting in 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple and she became a most beloved mother to Tommy and his siblings. He also gained two additional sisters, Kae (deceased) and Carol, and after several years another sister Brenda joined the family. In his later years, Tom enjoyed a relationship with his half-brother John Thompson (Johnny) from his mother Iris’s second marriage.
Tom loved scouting as a youth and could always be found hunting, fishing, camping, riding horses and enjoying nature. Many summers he preferred sleeping outdoors to sleeping in a bed. Tom achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in October 1950 with troop 59 of the Sunset Ward in Provo, Utah and was so proud of that accomplishment throughout his life. He spent many years serving in the scouting program, all the way up until the age of 81 when he participated in scout camp with two of his grandsons. Tom was always a hard worker and when he was young he had jobs as a shoe shine boy, paperboy, or hired help for the local farmers. He worked for U.S. Steel (Geneva) before his mission and throughout his years at BYU in order to pay for his education and support his growing family. He worked as a painter and welder, and throughout his life he could figure out how to fix anything.
After graduating from Provo High school in 1953, Tom accepted a call to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in the Northwestern States mission from 1955-1957. He credits all the good things that came later in his life to his missionary service. After finishing his missionary service he married Glenice Lamb in the Salt Lake Temple on August 4, 1958 and gained a beautiful daughter Cheryl Ann.
Following in the footsteps of his father’s military service, Tom joined the Utah National Guard and later the Army Reserves and was proud of his military service.
Tom valued education and worked hard to graduate from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in 1967 and a master’s degree in 1969. Following his graduation, Tom accepted a teaching position at Allegany Community College (now Allegany College of Maryland) located in Cumberland, Maryland where he taught in the science department for over 40 years. He loved teaching and seeing his “former students” all over Cumberland in various health related fields. Over the course of his professional career he taught anatomy and physiology, chemistry, microbiology and other science courses, and enjoyed his association with all his colleagues there. He also earned a doctorate of education from the University of Maryland and never stopped learning throughout his life.
Tom was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served faithfully in many responsibilities throughout his life. He was dedicated to his faith and the people he associated with. He was never too busy to help someone in need and set a great example for his family of selfless service throughout his life.
He loved sports and appreciated music and passed that love down to his children and grandchildren. Throughout his life he supported his family by coaching or attending countless basketball, softball, baseball, football, gymnastics, soccer, karate, or volleyball games as well as attending many dance and piano recitals, and orchestra and choir concerts. He was happiest when he was busy enjoying time with his family and traveling.
Tom is preceded in death by his parents LeGrand Joseph Baker and Beth Whiting Baker, a son Benjamin L Baker, brother Walter Baker and sister Kae Beal.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Glenice Lamb Baker, daughter Cheryl (Marty) Hartung of Cumberland, Maryland, son Dan (Jennifer) Baker of Alpine Utah, son Nathan Baker (world traveler), son Matthew (Janelle) Baker of Cumberland, Maryland, daughter Jennie (David) Moss of North Las Vegas, Nevada, sister Ruth Badham of St. George, Utah, sister Carol Fallon of South Jordan, Utah, sister Brenda (Mike) Jones of Monroe, Utah and half-brother John (Debi) Thompson of Hurricane, Utah. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Friends and family will be received at a viewing from 9:30-10:30 am on Saturday November 4, 2023 at the LDS church building located at 285 North Matterhorn Drive, Alpine, Utah 84004. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 am at the church building. A zoom link will be available for the funeral service for those friends and family unable to attend, on the Warenski Funeral Home obituary page (www.warenski.com) for Thomas Carl Baker. The burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Springville Utah, where he will be laid to rest next to his son Benjamin.
A zoom link is provided for those unable to attend: zoom.us
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.warenski.com