Robert Baker

Robert Keith Baker NORFOLK - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Keith Baker, 41, passed away in Fort Polk, La. He was born in Sentara Leigh Memorial Hospital in Norfolk, Aug. 31, 1967. He graduated from Norview High School in Norfolk in 1986. He entered the Army in 1992 at the age of 24 and completed Basic Training at Fort Sill, Okla. He had subsequent assignments in Germany, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Knox, Ky., Korea, and Fort Bragg, N.C. He culminated his superb military career with the assignment he was most proud of at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. In his final position as the signal section chief in the Plans Division he greatly contributed to the combat preparation of 20 brigades who successfully deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. While at Fort Polk he was promoted to his final rank of staff sergeant. He was survived by his wife, Susan and daughter, Olivia. He is also survived by his father, Keith; stepmother, Joanne; brother, Ronnie and sister-in-law Jane. He was preceded in death by his mother, Louise M. Baker. A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Drive Chapel, with CH (MAJ) Steve Peck officiating. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a memorial fund for Olivia's college at Wachovia Bank, 5700 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23701, Attn: Mike Livsay. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.