Walter W. Baker Jr.

HIGH POINT - Walter W. Baker Jr., 64, of High Point died Sunday, March 4, 2007, unexpectedly at his home. Mr. Baker was born July 27, 1942, in Raleigh, a son to W. Wray Sr. and Maggie Holland Baker. An attorney, he received his preparatory and legal education at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (A.B., 1964, J.D. 1966). While in college, he was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and the Epsilon Pi Eta fraternity. Upon graduation, he was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1966, the U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina in 1967, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1974. After clerking for Chief Justice R. Hunt Parker of the N.C. Supreme Court from 1966 to 1967 in his hometown of Raleigh, Mr. Baker entered private practice in High Point, and eventually founded Baker Law Offices, of which he was currently the managing member. Mr. Baker practiced law in the areas of plaintiffs' personal injury, general civil trials and estate planning and probate. For a number of years, Mr. Baker was an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Wake Forest University School of Law. His published works included North Carolina Family Law Practice Manual, (contributing editor), Wake Forest University School of Law, 1982-1986; North Carolina Civil Trial Book, (contributing editor), Wake Forest University School of Law, 1983; and North Carolina New Rules of Evidence Handbook, Wake Forest University School of Law Manual (contributing editor), Wake Forest School of Law, 1992. Mr. Baker was a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, was an Advocate on the American Board of Trial Advocates, a member of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, serving as president in 1985, the High Point Bar Association serving as president 1985 to 1986, North Carolina State Bar, 18th Judicial District, serving as Councilor 1991 to the present, member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the American Bar Association and has been an ongoing President of the Western North Carolina American Board of Trial Attorneys Chapter. He received many honors and awards and was listed in Best Lawyers in America (personal injury); in Who's Who in American Law; and was designated among the Legal Elite in litigation in North Carolina by Business North Carolina magazine; and listed as a North Carolina Super Lawyer by the Charlotte Magazine. Mr. Baker served many years as a Continuing Legal Education Lecturer in many classes such as Medical/Legal Workshops, 1976 to 1977; Lawyer Disciplinary Proceedings, 1998 to 2005; Law Office Economics and Administration, 1979; Psychological Jury Techniques, 1981; Negotiations Techniques, 1986; Malpractice Prevention, 1986; Persuasion, 1987; Cross-Examination, 1988; Direct Examination, 1989; Negotiations, 1992; Litigation, 1993; Law of North Carolina Personal Injury Damages, 1993; 2000; 2001; 2003; Neck and Back Injury Cases, 1993; Pre-Existing Injuries, 1994; General Practice: A Primer, 1994; Recovering Damages for Enhanced Injuries Due to Plaintiffs Peculiar Susceptibility, 1994; Proving Soft Tissue Damages, 1994; The Opening Statement: A Legitimate Forensic Weapon, 1995; Presenting Plaintiff's Case-in-Chief, 1997; Evidence in Trial Practice, 1997; Trying the Automobile Case, Insurance Issues, 1997; Civil Discovery Techniques, 1998; Winning Ways with Direct and Cross-Examination in Civil Cases, 1998; Advocacy: The Structure, Setting and Bounds, 2000; Proving Damages, 2001, 2003, 2005; Evidentiary Foundations, 2002, 2006; Question and Answer: Testimonial Evidence, 2003; Artful Witness Examination: Question Structure and Witness Control, 2004; Powerful Courtroom Evidence in Civil Trials, 2004; Evidence Law, 2004; Testimony Control Through Question Structure and Delivery, 2004; Practical Trial Skills Workshop, annually; and other works in progress. He was a former member of the High Point Jaycees, where he had served as President. Mr. Baker was a former member of the First Wesleyan Church and a former Sunday school teacher, serving as a member of the LBA and Wesleyan Arms Boards. Surviving are his wife, the former Jane Green, of the home; two daughters, Susan Baker and her sons, Nathan and Ben; and Valerie Shepherd, her husband, Christian, and sons Riley and Evan Wray, all of High Point; a son, Walter W. "Trip" Baker III and fiancee, Rose Hengeveld, of High Point; a sister, Judy Beacham and husband Fred of Columbia; mother-in-law, Olivia Green of Wesleyan Arms, and sister-in-law, Kathy Simms and her husband, John, of Greensboro. A funeral service for Mr. Baker will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Community Bible Church, 4125 Johnson St., High Point, with Dr. Clyde A. Dupin and the Rev. James L. Denny officiating. Interment will follow in the Floral Garden Park Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Cumby Family Funeral Service in High Point from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening. Memorials may be directed to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be submitted through www.cumbyfuneral.com.