This has been a sad year that saw the passing of several giants in our field. John was such a great guy who always regarded me as a "boy" when we were together. He was a true gentleman in every way. He will be truly missed. Chris:(

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 23, 2011, at 11:44 AM, Alan Gettleman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Dear Shelling Friends:
>
> Another sad passing to relate.  John Baker, long time member of the
> Astronaut Trail Shell Club and the Conchologists of America (COA) died at
> the age of 90.  A wonderful early picture of John is at the website of the
> information listed below:
> http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/floridatoday/obituary.aspx?n=john-baker&pid
> =148778700&fhid=10209
>
> "John Allen Baker of Merritt Island, Florida
>
> "John Baker, 90, Chief Master Sergeant USAF (Retired), entered peacefully
> into the presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, February 7,
> 2011. He was surrounded by loving friends who cared for him as family until
> the time of his death.
>
> "John will be greatly missed by many who knew him to be a loving and
> generous encourager of others along with the contagious joy he carried in
> life. He was a lover of seashells and music and most of all, for Christ and
> His people.
>
> "A Memorial Service for John will be held this Sunday, February 27, 2011 at
> 6 PM at the Bethany Bible Chapel, 101 SE First St. in Satellite Beach. There
> will be a time of fellowship and refreshments immediately following.
>
> "In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to VITAS Hospice, 4450 W. Eau
> Gallie Blvd., Suite 280, Melbourne, FL 32934."
>
> John was one of the early members of COA since at least 1973.  There was no
> kinder or gentler person than he.  He was always a gentleman, a kind and
> soft-spoken man who loved to laugh.  John true to his last name was a great
> baker and his carrot cake was legendary.  His parents were from Eleuthera,
> Bahamas which is where he learned to love shells.
>
> John was a past president of the Astronaut Trail Shell Club, and was a COA
> convention co-chair for the COA in Melbourne, Florida in 1990.  He was
> always a vigorous supporter of COA, being our club's long time COA rep.  I
> believe he was once a Trustee of the COA.  At the St. Louis COA convention
> when our St. Louis members wanted to hear the presentations, John offered to
> man the reception booth to allow them to attend.  Homer Rhode of Englewood
> tells the story that he and John were roommates at a COA and both were
> bidding on the same land shell at the COA oral auction.  After several
> raises of the bid John yelled across the room to Homer: "Homer, stop
> bidding, I'm buying the shell for you!" That story expresses well his
> generosity.
>
> John was not active in shelling over the past decade and was in declining
> health.
>
> John Baker had the wonderful legacy that there were only good things to say
> of him, and you were happy whenever you saw him.
>
> God bless you, John, and good shelling.
>
> Alan Gettleman
> Merritt Island, FL
>
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