Harold Stanley Baker

BAKER, Harold Stanley
Peacefully surrounded by his family, in his 91st year on December 6, 2017. Beloved Husband of Joyce for 64 years. Cherished Dad of Sherri Cheadle (Burns), Tracey Baker (Andy) and Marci Kosac (Tony). Proud Grandfather of Kyle, Elysse, Greg (Karen), Richard, Ben, Jake and Lily. Brother of Thea, Dorothy, Vernon, and Raymond.  Predeceased by Viola, Ernest, Roy, Hazel and Neil. Friends will be received by the family from 10am on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at St. James Westminster Anglican Church, 115 Askin St, London, ON N6C 1E7, until the funeral service at 11am. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. James Westminster Anglican Church or the London Consistory Club (Masonic Lodge), 243 Wellington Road South, London, ON N6A 4V3. Arrangements entrusted with A. Millard George Funeral Home, 519-433-5184. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com

Harold Baker celebrated milestones reached by few:  64 years of devoted marriage,  45 years of an illustrious banking career, and 32 years of spectacularly industrious retirement. Harold and Joyce both hailed from Meaford, and were married in 1953. Harold served the Toronto-Dominion Bank throughout his working years, beginning in Toronto, followed by transfers taking his family to Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and, finally, Sudbury where he ended his career managing one of the largest commercial centres in the TD system.  Long after retiring, Harold still received Christmas cards from his employees whose careers he helped shape.

As a father of three daughters, and grandfather to six grandchildren and one great grandchild, Harold was fiercely proud of his family. Large family Sunday dinners prepared by Harold and Joyce were the best start to every week. Children and grandchildren were encouraged, challenged, and taught many practical lessons through Harold’s entertaining dinnertime stories from a life of business, service and outdoor pursuits. Those lessons paid huge dividends, as befits a banking family – Harold and Joyce felt blessed by having each grandchild celebrate graduation from University.

Harold served the community as a Mason for over 50 years, working tirelessly in numerous volunteer roles to help people in need. In recent years, much of that work involved rebuilding wheelchairs, and he accepted his last position at 87 yrs of age as Logistics Co-ordinator of hospital beds in the London area.  Harold was organizing the moving vans last week. 

Although community service was a big part of his life, Harold also made time for some well-deserved recreation. Apart from the golf course, Harold spent his three decades of retirement in his favourite place – his workshop.  The bear claws, the wooden toys, the Christmas reindeers all poured out of the bandsaw!  His second hobby of gardening was equally productive – we all had countless big, juicy home-grown tomatoes in every meal during the summer months.

Harold and Joyce enjoyed close to 15 years of their winter home in Lakeland, Florida and also travelled to Greece, Alaska, Panama Canal, Bahamas, Hawaii, Portugal, Prague and Amsterdam.  Summers were celebrated with family trips trailering in Quetico and later many hours with Joyce refurbishing a log cabin on Shebandowan Lake, near Thunder Bay.  Summer mornings were fishing in his beloved 12’ boat, and evenings were saunas and bridge.

Harold made nine trips to Hudson Bay for duck hunting and a multitude of fishing trips to Lake Nipigon.  The van of four men in their 80s driving away from London enroute to the North would make anyone smile.

“15-2, 15-4”….”one no trump”.  Harold enjoyed countless games of cribbage, euchre, and was an avid bridge player.  No one came close to beating Harold in crokinole – even last year in games against his grandsons.  If Harold was not at the card table, he was cheering on his grandsons in hockey rinks, soccer pitches, lacrosse arenas, basketball and volleyball courts. Harold was constantly in motion, and got Joyce into the action when they took up square dancing in Florida and the CNE.

With a life so balanced between career, community, family and countless friends, it is no wonder Harold’s greatest legacy is his ability to tell stories.  And stories abound.  “Have I told you about the time…?