Ted Eugene Baker

1943 - 2022

Ted Eugene Baker was born in Susanville, California, to Ted and Vivian Baker on June 21, 1943. He passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at the age of 79 due to heart failure. He and Elizabeth celebrated their 58th anniversary on Sept. 8 three days earlier. They had just moved from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Sebastian, Florida, on Sept. 6.

Ted and his parents drove to Alaska in 1947, where he lived for the next 75 years. He attended Lathrop High School and graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He met his wife, Elizabeth, in church youth group, and they married in 1964. In 1965, he joined the Alaska National Guard. Ted taught eighth-grade science at Ryan Middle School for 27 years, from 1969 to 1996. He incorporated his artistic talents with his teaching by making monthly chalk drawings. He was Fairbanks Teacher of the Year in 1987.

Ted was an astronomy enthusiast. He liked looking through his telescope on clear winter nights and brought a pocket-sized star chart along on many travels. His greatest passion was his love for Jesus his Savior. He led worship at First Assembly of God Church (now True North) for many years. When he wasn't doing that, he set up the sound equipment and ran the sound booth. In his retirement years, he taught adult Sunday school. He especially enjoyed teaching about a Biblical worldview and exposing the bankruptcy of evolutionary ideas, using materials from the Answers In Genesis website. He also facilitated the viewing and discussion of The Truth Project from Focus on the Family.

Ted was a dedicated family man who would stop whatever he was doing to help his kids or wife. The family shares happy memories of the time he would spend assembling models, playing rough house, listening to him read adventure classics aloud, traveling across the U.S. in the summer and stopping to see the sights.

After retiring from teaching, he and Elizabeth ran Lizzie's Nest Bed & Breakfast. They enjoyed visiting with guests from all over the world. He and his adventure-loving wife had fun traveling within the U.S., in Europe and Israel. A true renaissance man, Ted was at home working under the hood of a car, dip netting for salmon at Chitna, attending an opera in New York or dining at the Eiffel Tower in Paris with his Sweetie on their 50th Anniversary.

Ted was an avid reader, with his favorites being Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and LOTR series. He also appreciated books by Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer. Listening to classical music was his forte, and he had a smooth, resonant baritone singing voice. Hard working, faithful, kind, generous, loving, knowledgeable, Godly and hospitable are the words that describe him best.

Ted will be greatly missed by many friends and loved ones. Ted is survived by his devoted wife, Elizabeth Baker; son, Wesley Baker (Jackie); daughter, Luana Barnes (Rodney); sister, Mary Anna Hunstiger; sister-in-law, Gwen Selle (John); grandchildren, Wesley II, Brandon, Jason, Connor, Devin and Kendra Baker; great-granddaughter, Emma Baker; honorary grandchildren, Lincoln and Becca Marsh and Cody Wallis; nieces, Jennifer Wenger and Darcy Hunstiger; and nephews, Patrick Hunstiger, David Selle and Jonathan Selle.

A service will be held at True North Church, 2830 Airport Way, on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon with lunch to follow in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Novi Community, helping children in Ukraine, www.novi.ngo/donate (there is a place on the form to add a note; please indicate you are giving in memory of Ted Baker) or by mail to The Novi Community PO Box 3673, 79702 Midland, Texas, U.S. (organization headed by Steve Gumaer).