Lewis “Ray” Baker, Jr.

by Lynn McMillen
0 comment

obituary image

Service above self and love for all. This is the life motto of Lewis “Ray” Baker, Jr. who passed from this Earth into the arms of his lord and savior Jesus Christ on November 24, 2022. A long-time resident of Huntsville for over 50 years, Ray was born in Atlanta, Georgia on July 12, 1938 to parents Lewis R. Baker, Sr. and Mary B. Cox Baker. Ray served his country as a member of the Navy, served his community, served his church and lord, and tirelessly and without pause, served his family.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-two years, Dorris “Dody” Horne Baker, his four children: Bryan of Athens, AL, Brett of Huntsville, AL, Elizabeth Macklem (Jon) of Fairhope, AL, and Kathryn Parsons (Matthew) of Athens, AL; and his seven grandchildren – Jordan and Michael Baker, Ford, Whit, and Sutton Macklem, and Kaitlyn and Baker Parsons; and sister Gail Baker Cook (Jim).

Ray attended Georgia Institute of Technology earning a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering. He was commissioned as an officer in the Navy upon graduation and served his country for 5 years before beginning his career as an aerospace engineer where he was first employed by Pratt & Whitney in West Palm Beach, FL. In 1967 he came to Huntsville where he was a longtime employee of Lockheed Missile and Space Company (Lockheed Martin) and then Dynetics until his retirement.

Ray served his community in a variety of capacities including being a member of the Rotary Club of Greater Huntsville (Past-President); Board of Advisors for the Alabama Division of the Boy Scouts of America; President of the Huntsville/Madison County Arts Council, and a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church (Cokesbury Sunday School Class & Men’s Prayer Breakfast Group), having served in a number of different leadership roles.

With his warming smile, gregarious laugh, and genuine care of people, Ray never met a stranger, and no one left him that did not consider him a friend.

Visitation is from 10-11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29th, at Trinity UMC, 607 Airport Road, Huntsville, AL 35802, immediately followed by a Celebration of Life. Burial to follow at Maple Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Ray’s honor to the Rotary Foundation or St. Jude.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.