Obituary
Mark Anthony Baker, of Ormond Beach, FL, passed away on March 1, 2016 at age 78. He was born December 10, 1937 in Spencer, NE, son of the late Margaret Anna Fries and Fred Baker. He began his military career at age of seventeen by enlisting in the 34th Infantry Division, Iowa National Guard while attending the Unionville High School, Unionville, MO. He was a 1960 graduate from the University of Missouri at Columbia, MO earning his Bachelors of Science Degree and a Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. He later continued his education by earning a Master’s of Science Degree in Procurement and Contract Management from the Florida University of Technology, Melbourne, FL in 1976. During a prestigious twenty years of dedicated service in the United States Army, Mark received numerous medals and honors including the Bronze Star Medal/with Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal. His overseas assignments were in Germany in 1963, two combat tours in Vietnam in 1966/1970 and Korea in 1977. In his second assignment in Vietnam, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge while performing duties as a Senior District Tactical Infantry Advisor. Follow-on assignments included two tours in the Pentagon being assigned to the Department of the Army General Staff in 1972 and the Secretary of Defense Staff in 1980 performing numerous temporary tours in Egypt, Pakistan and Yugoslavia. Following his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1981, he accepted a position with the National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, VA and later became Director of the Government Business Division serving in this capacity until he moved to Ormond Beach, FL in 1996. Mark was involved in the following organizations: University of Missouri Alumni Association, Military Officers of America Association, 5th Battalion, 27th Artillery Association and the VFW Chapter, Palm Coast, FL. Surviving with his wife of 54 years, Barbara Ann Baker, are two daughters, Robin Annette Baker Bedford (Mike) of Lexington, KY and Marcia Ann Baker Robertson (Rob) of Richmond, VA; a sister, Marie Annette Reidel of Jefferson City, MO; a brother, Wayne Baker of Phoenix AZ, three grandchildren, William Bedford, Carter Robertson, and Kayla Robertson, and a great grandson, Blake Bedford. Two brothers, Wesley Baker and Lennis Baker, and two sisters Ardys Christensen and Mavis Wieneke preceded him in death. There will be a Veterans burial at a later date at Camp Nelson National Cemetery, near Lexington KY. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Halifax Health Hospice, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129. Arrangements are in the care and trust of Baldwin Brothers Funerals and Cremations, Ormond Beach, FL.
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