World War II veteran and 19-year Gardnerville resident Eston D. "Red" Baker, 86, died June 29, 2009, at Carson Valley Residential Care Center.
Born in Ringgold County, Iowa, on Dec. 10, 1922, to Ralph and Zelma Baker, the family moved to Wyoming and he grew up in the Slater area. He graduated from Wheatland High School and continued to work on the farm.
Mr. Baker moved to California and became a cabinet maker. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1944 to 1946 on a B-24 as a navigator, flying in the North Africa theater and over Italy.
He married Carol Elaine Bovee on June 29, 1947, in Palms, Calif.
He worked for Ryan Aeronautical, American Electronics, Ampex, Hughes Aircraft and Raytheon as a source inspector and engineer.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman all his life and he had all the stories to go with each one. He loved to hunt rocks when he had time. Watching stock car races and old Westerns was his source of entertainment.
He was a member of the Minden-Douglas Elks Club, Footprinters, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was a volunteer for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. He manned the desk at the Ranchos substation for many years.
He was preceded in death by his wife Carol, parents Ralph and Zelma Baker, brothers Buck and John Baker and a sister, Iva Redding.
He is survived by his sister Randena Jean Wagner of Wheatland, Wyo.; daughter Vivian Lynn Henderson (Jim) of Yerington; son Ken Baker of Laramie, Wyo.; 21 nieces and nephews, three cousins; friends and neighbors.
Cremation will take place and his ashes will be interned at his favorite fishing spot at a later date.
