Victor Baker

Victor Ernest Baker

June 18, 1929 - February 7, 2025

Victor Ernest Baker, age 95, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2025, in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Vic was born on June 18th, 1929, in Wolverhampton, England, to Ernest and Ellen Baker. As the eldest of three children, growing up he helped his Dad as an air raid warden, raising rabbits, and racing pigeons. He began his career at 16 as a lab technician at the local Courtaulds factory. While working full-time, he pursued his education at night. He earned a degree in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of London and was a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry.

On January 2, 1954, Vic married Sylvia Jones, at The Parish Church of All Saints in Sedgley, England. He served in the British Army soon after marrying, for his 2 years national service. The couple moved several times across England and Wales due to Vic's job, and in 1964, they welcomed their daughter, Karen. Vic subsequently spent 6 months in the USSR with Courtaulds, helping to start up a factory. In 1968, the family relocated to Mobile, Alabama, for what was initially a temporary assignment that became permanent. Vic retired from Courtaulds in 1977 and subsequently joined Ciba-Geigy, leading to moves to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Toms River, New Jersey. He retired in 1994, this time for good. In 2023, Vic and Sylvia moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, to live with their daughter and her husband.

Vic had a passion for various activities, including breeding prize-winning fuchsias in Preston, growing roses, ballroom dancing with Sylvia, hunting for duck, quail, deer, and turkey, bass fishing in Alabama, fly fishing in Canada, and woodworking.

Vic was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He and Sylvia were happily married for over 71 years. He especially loved teaching his daughter and granddaughter things like how to carve a pumpkin, how to use a pocket knife, and how to grow tomatoes.

Vic was predeceased by his parents, Ernest and Ellen Baker. His brother, Raymond (Ray), passed away peacefully just a few hours after Vic. He is survived by his beloved wife Sylvia, his sister Noreen and her husband John Powner, his sister-in-law June Baker, his daughter Karen and her husband Tom Williams, his granddaughter Laura Williams and her husband Aidan Maycock, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren.

In accordance with Vic's wishes, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Salvation Army, Parkinson's Foundation, Macular Degeneration Research, or a charity of your choice.