Bill Baker was born September 7, 1940, the first of five children born to William G. and Dorothy Sue Miller Baker.

He was a lifelong Houstonian who grew up on an 8 acre farm at the confluence of Piney Point, Memorial and Blalock with 7 horses, 20 rabbits, innumerable chickens and a lot of room to build forts and hunt birds and rabbits.

During his grade school years he played football and joined his siblings in competitive swimming for the Shamrock and Houston Dad’s Club Swim Teams. He made his original fame as a swimmer. Bill broke national swim records and earned national honors including being named a NCAA All American and member of the National Junior Olympic Team.

During his grade school years he played football and joined his siblings in competitive swimming for the Shamrock and Houston Dad’s Club Swim Teams. He made his original fame as a swimmer. Bill broke national swim records and earned national honors including being named a NCAA All American and member of the National Junior Olympic Team.

Bill shared a lifelong love of fishing and hunting for ducks and dove with his siblings and friends. He never lost his skill to call in the ducks after winning a Duck Calling Championship at the age of 12. He would zip up and down the marshes of Port O'Connor and he would shoot his limit every day. When the duck hunting slowed down, he’d moved to dove hunting in South Texas then migrated into Mexico. His favorite bass fishing hole was Toledo Bend, where he won many tournaments.

Bill attended Spring Branch schools until mid-way through high school when he enrolled at Georgia Military Academy in Atlanta GA. There, Bill continued to excel on the water polo and swim teams setting records in various strokes. Upon graduation he received a full swimming scholarship to Texas A&M University where he set Southwest Conference swim records.

After college Bill got into oilfield sales and service, and would later start a successful drill pipe business called Baker Oilfield Sales and Service (BOSS).

His favorite restaurant back in the day was the original Maxim’s Restaurant downtown where he had membership #0001.

When the oil business slowed in the mid 80’s he started his own graphic supply and equipment company called Street Art Supply from which he retired several years ago.

Bill loved spending time with his family and friends, and when they gathered for large or intimate occasions you would likely find him cooking in the kitchen or outdoors. He was a fabulous cook and created an award winning recipe for Chili.

He loved his Forest Cove neighbor friends, many of whom were members of the Cove Choraliers. Together, they all supported each other in the best and worst of times.

Bill leaves behind a family he adored including his wife of 34 years Judy; his children Carri and Tullos Wells, William and Belinda Baker, Danica and Jeff Johnston, Kristin Adams and Craig Muenchow, and Gary and Rachael Barndt; his 11 grandchildren McKensie Wells, Luken, Carli and Clair Baker; Cash and Sawyer Johnston; Adison and Lauren Adams; Jennings, Bo, Ruby, and Willa Mae Barndt; his siblings Robert and Peggy Baker, Babs and Dick Phillips, and Betty and Spiker Davis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

When Bill’s body failed him in this life on August 20, he joined those who preceded him in death including his parents, his brother Tom Baker and step-son Greg Barndt.

Bill will be remembered as a very compassionate, giving person, who gave a special spark to any gathering, and as a friend whom you could count on when in need. His booming laugh and quick one liners were his hallmark, as was his warmth, which blanketed every occasion.

Source: http://www.darstfuneralhome.com/obit/bill-baker