James Irvin Baker

A life well lived best describes James Irvin Baker. Born at his grandparent’s house in Rosedale (Kansas City) Kansas on April 26, 1929, he was one of six children growing up in Kansas City. He first came to Arizona in 1947 when assigned to Williams Field as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force. His first plane was the P-51 Mustang, used for pilot training at Willie. He was next the crew chief on the very first jet trainer T-33 in the Air Force. This first jet was personally test flown by Lockheed’s Kelly Johnson. His career in the Air Force continued on to ever greater responsibilities, with assignments around the United States and overseas in Japan, Thailand, and Germany. The plum assignments were Willie and Hickam AFB, Hawaii. While stationed in Alaska, he luckily missed being aboard three aircraft flights that crashed. His last assignment, after being stationed in Thailand, was at Hollomon AFB, New Mexico, where he was Maintenance Chief for the base’s F4 Phantom aircraft. He retired after 26 years in the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant with commendations, including the Bronze Star, Air Force Commendation medal, and ribbons for WWII, Korea and Vietnam service. His career spanned aircraft from the WWII P-51, through the T-33, F-80, F-94, B-47, C-130, C-141, and F-105, to the F-4, an era in aircraft development that may never be equaled again.

In 1972 he returned to the promised land of Arizona, after decades of being away serving his country. He worked in Phoenix for Garrett AiResearch and retired in 1989 to Prescott. His remaining years were spent in Prescott with, as he called it, “the best climate in the world.” He was the quintessential self-made man, proud of what he could accomplish on his own and always prepared for any assignment. Knowledgeable, excellence in academics and discipline were strong traits of his.

The real love in his life was his wife, Elsie. After meeting him in Kansas City, she traveled to Arizona for a short visit and instead stayed and married James on September 29, 1953 in Phoenix. She shared nineteen years with him as an Air Force wife and then they settled down in Mesa for seventeen years in their first house. Retirement in Prescott for twenty years followed. Their life together lasted until March 12, 2010, when she passed away.

He was 86 when he passed away on May 13, 2015. He was the son of Cecil J. Baker, Sr. and Helen M. (Deegan) Baker. He is survived by sons Thomas (Betsy) Baker of Tempe, James (Sylvia) of New Zealand; granddaughters Clara, Kinney, Jasmine and Justine; brother C.J. (Pat) Baker, Jr.; and sisters Helen Huffman and Mary Jo (Babe) Stinson. His older brothers Thomas (Marcelle) Baker and Charles Baker preceded him in death. He was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Prescott, where he was actively involved and had keys for nearly every door.