Fred Baker Sr. dies at 89 (Updated)

Editor's note: The formal obit for Mr. Baker is now located at the end of this story.

Fred Baker Sr., World War II veteran and notable Fort Smith businessman, passed away suddenly on Jan. 10, according to his family. He was 89.

Baker is best known as being a co-owner — with his son Fred Baker Jr. — in several Fort Smith radio stations, to include KFSA, KREU and KISR 93.7. He was also known for his philanthropy, particularly through the Fort Smith Rotary Club.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Estelle Young Baker. Baker is survived by son Fred, and daughters Dr. Zoe Morgan, an instructor at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, Barbara Wood of Meeker Okla., and Jeanette Van Ert of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Baker was born June 12, 1921, in San Jose, Calif. He attended the University of Santa Clara, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

He joined the U.S. Army and received numerous awards for his service during World War II. Immediately after the war, he oversaw a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the Far East.

When he returned to the U.S., Baker was employed as an engineer by a contractor to the Atomic Energy Commission. Within a few years, he was working as a high-level manager at one of the country’s most sensitive nuclear-related facilities.

“He worked with and managed some really fascinating people,” said son Fred Jr.

He retired in the late 1960s to Fort Smith, the hometown of his wife, Estelle. It was there he “embarked on a life of public service,” noted a family statement. Those roles included work with city commissions and Rotary Club projects. He was a Spirit of the Frontier award winner, the highest award given by the city of Fort Smith.

He was also a longtime member and past board member of Christ the King parish, where he was a lector and eucharistic minister. He also was studying for a degree in theology at Shawnee, Okla.-based St. Gregory’s University.

Baker also served several terms as a member of board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters.

According to the family, in 2009 — at the age of 88 — he went deep into China and assisted as scrub nurse in cleft palate surgeries on Chinese children. He was also involved in a Rotary project that sends hospital equipment recently replaced in U.S. hospitals to hospitals in third-world countries — primarily children’s hospitals. According to the family, he would often make a trip to deliver the equipment, and then visit the location a year later to ensure it was there and used properly.

Mac McGhee, president of Fort Smith Rotary Club, provided this statement about Baker: “Fred Baker, Sr. was a man of great character and wisdom. A 42-year Rotarian, he had many great accomplishments and helped people in need from all walks of life.

“His efforts with Group Study Exchange fostered international peace and goodwill by bringing people to the United States from countries like Brazil, Chile, Romania, Ukraine, Japan, and India. He helped establish much needed water wells in Mexico which provided water to hundreds of people to improve their quality of life. He consistently volunteered for bell ringing every Christmas season for the Salvation Army which raised thousands of dollars for needy families.

“His volunteerism was also backed up by his philanthropy. He was a 9-time Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary Foundation Major Donor. A past District Governor for Rotary District 6110, Fred also served on the Council of Past District Governors, the Elections and Credentials Committee, the Medical Supplies Network Committee, and the Resolutions Committee. Fred was a loved friend and a mentor to Rotarians all over the world. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.”

Following is the formal obit for Fred Baker Sr.

Fred H. Baker, Sr., age 89, of Fort Smith, passed away January 10, 2011, in Fort Smith.

Fred was born June 21, 1921 in San Jose, California to Elwin H. Baker and Rose Bangasser Baker, and was raised in the San Jose and Santa Clara area, where he excelled in sailing and graduated. He received a Jesuit education, graduating from the University of Santa Clara with a degree in civil engineering.

He joined the U.S. Army during World War II, and while traveling cross country to San Diego by train as a young soldier, he met Estelle Young of Fort Smith, who was on her way to college in Tucson. He jumped off the train in Tucson to spend more time with her, and still made it to San Diego on time the next day. In 1945 they were married in her hometown, Fort Smith. Fred was sent to the Pacific theatre as a young officer, where he oversaw a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. Fred returned home with several gifts of appreciation from the prisoners including a portrait of Estelle painted with contraband materials.

After the War, Fred was employed as an engineer by a contractor to the Atomic Energy Commission. Within a few years he was top-level management at one of the country's largest, most sensitive and secret nuclear-related manufacturing facilities. In keeping with the times and given the highly classified nature of his work, Fred was not able to tell his family what the actual nature of his engineering work was until much later in his life.

In 1967, Fred and Estelle retired to Fort Smith where he established a management consulting firm. Fred also ventured into the radio business with his son, Fred Jr., and together they started KISR, 93.7 FM, one of the area's most successful radio stations. Later Fred personally owned KFSA 950 AM, and also established the area's pre-eminent Hispanic station, KREU 92.3 FM. He was elected by his fellow broadcasters to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters, and in that position became, as the guest of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, one of the first official American visitors to China immediately following Richard Nixon's first visit there.

Fred embarked on a lifetime of public service which included being the Chairman of the Fort Smith Planning Commission. He was also the local Commandant of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and piloted a craft from the upper Mississippi to Fort Smith, becoming the first private craft to come up the newly navigable Arkansas River. He was the recipient of the Spirit of the Frontier Award, the highest award given by the city of Fort Smith and served as an inspiration to his family and the Fort Smith Community.

Fred devoted 42 years of service to Rotary International and its many projects. He served as Past-President of the Fort Smith Rotary Club, and as Past District Governor of Rotary District 6110, one of the largest Rotary Districts. Close to his heart were the ideals of international cooperation and understanding. To this end he sponsored Rotary's Group Study Exchange and brought people to the U.S. from Russia, Brazil, Romania, Japan and India. He also spearheaded the Rotary District's Medical Supplies Network, which gathered unused medical supplies and equipment and distributed them around the world to third-world countries. He remained active all his life, traveling the world, and in his late eighties again went to China with a team of doctors to assist in cleft palate surgeries for needy Chinese children. He attended many years of Rotary International Conventions held around the world. Fred served on Rotary's Council of Past District Governors, the Elections and Credentials Committee, the Medical Supplies Network Committee, and the Resolutions Committee. He was a 9-time Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary Foundation Major Donor.

Fred was a devout Catholic and extremely active member of Christ the King Parish in Fort Smith, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector for years. He was a past board member of the church and was still active in sponsoring and mentoring new members. He was known for never saying "no" to any request from the church, whether it was delivering communion to shut-ins or ringing the bells after 9-ll. For years he was active in the Knights of Columbus where he was Fourth Degree and a Faithful Navigator. He was currently attending classes to obtain a degree in Theology from St. Gregory's University.

Fred lost the love of his life, his "steel magnolia", Estelle, in 2007. He was also preceded in death by one son, William, who died shortly after birth. He is survived by his four children and their families: Fred Baker Jr. and wife Kim Baker of Fort Smith and daughters Candace Baker and Monica Baker; Dr. Zoe Morgan and her husband, Dr. Harry Morgan of Fort Smith and their son Dave Morgan, his wife Laura and their children Amber, Abbey and Isaiah; daughter Kristen Morgan, and daughter Jennifer Morgan Tindall and husband Dave; Barbara Wood and husband Robert of Meeker, Oklahoma, and their son Bret Wood, his wife Lauren and their children Morgan, Ryan and Keeli; son William Wood, his wife Molly and child Riley; son Matthew Zimmerman, his wife Cari, and their children Alexis, Conlin and Gavin; Keri Standlee and husband Aaron; and son Michael Wood; Jeanette Baker Van Ert & husband Jay of Austin, TX and their children, Lauren, Sarah, and Ryan. He is also survived by his cousin, Katherine Croom of Fort Smith, his nephew Gene Stratton and wife Gina, his niece Leslie Stratton, devoted friend Jennie Delt and Rosella Worthey who, for the last several years, has been a loving companion and caregiver to Fred and his family.

Rosary will be said on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 6:00 PM in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel and Mass will be said on Friday, January 14, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Christ the King Catholic Church with burial to follow in Oak Cemetery all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Harry Morgan, Robert Wood, Jay Van Ert, David Morgan, Michael Wood, Ryan Van Ert, Pete Harden, and Matthew Hutchinson.

Memorials may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church 1920 South Greenwood Fort Smith, AR 72901 or the Fort Smith Rotary Club P.O. Box 8193 Fort Smith, AR 72902