Baker, Joe

Joe Baker, 50, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales.

He was born Dec. 6, 1955, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Anita and William Calvin Baker. He was born into an Army family. They were stationed in Alaska and Germany as well as several locations in the continental U.S. His teen years were spent in Enid, Okla., where he graduated from high school in 1974. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served for 19 years. During that time, he was stationed two different times in a remote base at Shemya, Alaska. He took an early retirement in 1992.

After retiring he began working as a plumber. He worked for Andy Parks Plumbing and later started a company. When he became too ill to work, as a plumber he went to work at the Air Force Base at Transient Alert Flight, servicing transient planes.

Due to his continuing failing health, he was forced to retire all together in 2000. For several years he served on the New Mexico Rural Water Association Board in Albuquerque. He married Priscilla Andrews on Jan. 21, 1993, in Portales.

Family members said he enjoyed playing golf.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Joe Don Baker (and wife, Nicole) of Carson City, Nev., a daughter, Stefanie Baker of Carson City, Nev., a grandchild, Katie Baker; his parents, Anita and Bill Baker of Alamo, Texas.; and two brothers, John Baker of Horton, Kan. and Paul Baker of Stuttgart, Germany.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.