Richard Farley Baker was born June 7, 1931 in Eureka, Calif. Richard passed away April 24, 2008 in the Shasta Regional Medical Center from respiratory failure following complications from heart surgery and two strokes. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Martha Lee Fraser Baker (2006); one son, Robert (2003); and his parents, Olyn and Jacqueline Mrytle Wood Baker.

Following graduation from Eureka High School in 1950, Richard joined the U.S. Navy. Retiring in Port Hueneme, Calif., after 20 years of service, he had been stationed in various locations; Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Bethesda, Md.; Oakland, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Vietnam; Korea; and Japan. During tenure with the Navy, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Korean Campaign Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal (four times).

When he achieved his second retirement from the teamsters in the mid 1980s, Richard and Martha made Oxnard, Calif., their permanent residence. In 1995 they moved to Redding where he became a devoted golfer and member of the Gold Hills Men’s Club. He enjoyed woodworking (designing models for Martha’s painting hobby), their special dogs, and traveling. Through good times and bad, he was a loyal S.F. sports fan.

Richard is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Brenda and their daughter, Sarah; and seven other grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Ruthann Baker; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Herbert Hoyt and Jane Fraser; a nephew, Wayne Fraser and family in England; and many cousins and relatives.

A private family graveside service will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata.