Seth Bakes

(Courier News)

SETH BAKES
AGE: 86 BELLE MEAD
Seth Bakes, 86, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 at the home of his daughter in Belle Mead, NJ. Born in Atlantic City in 1923, Seth was the son of the late Joseph and Violet Bakes. Growing up in Atlantic City, he spent a good deal of time at the James' Salt Water Taffy store on the Boardwalk at Kentucky Avenue managed by his mother for more than 25 years. A graduate of Mainland High School in Pleasantville, NJ and Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Mr. Bakes had a long and successful career with Burlington Industries in NYC. While at Ursinus, Mr. Bakes met the love of his life, Catharine Floy Lewis. They were wed in 1949, and settled in Westfield, New Jersey, where they raised their four children. During WWII, Seth served as Captain in the United States Army Air Force, being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in March 1945 for his exceptional bravery, courageous leadership and devotion to duty as pilot of his B-24 bomber during a bombing mission of enemy oil installations in Austria. Mr. Bakes completed over 29 combat sorties in his career in the 15th Air Force, 757th Bombardment Squadron, 459th Bombardment Group.
Mr. Bakes is predeceased by his wife, Floy Lewis Bakes and is survived by his four children and their spouses, Marilyn and Martin Neat of Salisbury, Md., Seth and Ginger Bakes of Philadelphia, Pa., Matt and Beth Bakes of Barto, Pa., and Stephen and Margaret Bakes Davis of Belle Mead, NJ., and his 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society or Ursinus College at Ursinus College, Office of Development, P.O. Box 1000, 601 E. Main St., Collegeville, PA 19426-1000. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hillsborough Funeral Home 796 RT 206 Hillsborough, NJ 08844.