Dale Richard Baker

Captain Dale Richard Baker, 71, retired employee of General Motors and resident of Shangrila Trail, died Monday, November 2, 2015 at Maury Regional Medical Center following an extended illness. A memorial service will be conducted Thursday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Pastor Jacob Heine officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. and after 1:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church, 5001 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late John Richard Baker and Mary Geib Baker. He was a graduate of McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Pennsylvania Military College, where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He received a Master's of Science from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Baker served two years in the U. S. Army, stationed in Korea and Vietnam, where he received the Bronze Star. He was employed as Engineer with General Electric from 1969 until his retirement in 1994 and then was employed as Engineer with General Motors until his retirement in 2007. He loved to fish and hunt. Many stories were told about adventures with his brother Tom at the Stoney Hill hunting camp in Pennsylvania. He loved his church. During his childhood he was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When moving to Columbia in 1971, he joined Trinity Lutheran Church. Dale loved his family. He is survived by his wife of thirty years, Cathey Potts Baker; sons, Timothy (fiancée Erin Lindquist) and Michael (fiancée Belle Sloan). His loyal companion was his dog Izzy. He dearly loved his late son John who died in 1988. Other survivors include his brother, Tom (Debbie) Baker; sister, Mary Ann Boyd; father-in-law, Bobby (Pricilla) Potts; brother-in-law, Jeff (Susan) Potts; nieces, Laurie Boyd and Amber (Jon) Taylor; nephews, Matthew (Kelly) Baker, Ben Baker, Chris Boyd, Shannon Potts, Jason (Holly) Potts, Brad Potts; aunt, Dorothy Herr; and uncle, Richard Geib. The family would like to express a special thanks and appreciation to the Critical Care Unit at Maury Regional Medical Center, the staff of NHC Hillview, Dr. Lucy Ledbetter and Karen Perry, Pastor Jacob Heine, John Clear, Rodger Peterson, and John Kirk. Dear friends Susie Young, Steve & Barbara Heier and family, and Tisha Arms helped embrace Dale. Dale always had a smile for his former co-workers, especially the GE family. We have made many friends during Dale's illness. The friends we have met along this journey have left a footprint in our hearts.