Paul Baker

Paul Baker, a Garland native, was born at home on Third Street, as he called it, on Tuesday, October 26, 1937. He was the third of four sons born to mother, Ruby Anderson Baker, and father, Andy Frank Baker. Paul attended elementary and middle schools in Garland; and graduated from Garland High School in 1956. He loved the lifelong friendships he made with his many classmates; and he loved sports, especially basketball. He also attended Arlington State, now U.T. Arlington. Paul went to work for Kraft Foods in Garland. Then in 1963, Paul began his insurance career with State Farm Insurance, opening his office in his hometown, Garland. His agency flourished and grew rapidly. As many large corporations do, State Farm had a program, The President's Club, offering special recognition and rewards to those agents throughout the United States who excelled in production, retention and service. An agent could earn the designation of President's Club member for production in any one of five different types of insurance. Then, if the agent reached those goals in all five types of insurance, the agent earned the highest designation of Lifetime President's Club member. Today, out of approximately 17,000 State Farm Agents throughout the United States, there are only about 500 Lifetime President's Club members. Paul was one of that elite group. Throughout the 60's and 70's, Paul loved raising his three children, Bart, Penny and Brett. He was involved in their school activities including softball, baseball and T-ball, and he served as Vice President of Watson Elementary PTA. He was instrumental in establishing the first YMCA in Garland; and for many years, he coached and managed their sports program. In June, 2013, Paul celebrated 50 years as a State Farm insurance agent and received a commendation of this achievement from then President George W. Bush. But, perhaps what was even more special to Paul was being elected to the Garland High School Distinguished Alumni Association in 2018. Paul loved to travel too. He visited many cities here in the U.S.; and over the years, his travels also took him to Paris, London, Germany, Austria, Greece, Italy and the Amalfi Coast and China, and also included cruises to Alaska and the Mediterranean. Paul especially loved the last quarter century of his life spent with his wife, Georgia. They worked together, traveled together, and they loved spending time at home together, whether that was here at their home in Rowlett on Lake Ray Hubbard or at their ranch in the Ouachita mountains of Arkansas. Paul departed from this world peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, December 17, 2019 with Georgia by his side. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ruby Anderson Baker and Andy Frank Baker, and by his two older brothers, James and Frank. He is survived by his three children, Bart Baker and wife Kathy, Penny Baker Martin and husband, Lawrence, and Brett Baker, as well as his brother, Don Baker and wife, Paula. He is also survived by grandchildren Tiffany Shortridge, Rebekah Baker Jaeschke, Robert Baker, Dustin Paul Baker, Chase Baker and Gramm Baker as well as eight great-grandchildren with the ninth due in May, 2020. Paul is also survived by his loving and devoted wife, Georgia. He was loved tremendously and he will be deeply, deeply missed.