Herman Baker, 93

Funeral services for Herman Baker, 93, of Santa Maria, California (formerly of Ozark County), will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Clarkridge Baptist Church in Clarkridge, Arkansas, with burial and reception to follow. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on the day of the funeral. The family welcomes anyone who knew him to join in honoring Herman’s life. 

Herman, the oldest of eight children, was born in Osceola, Iowa, in 1928, to Rolla and Delia Baker. 

Throughout his life, Herman was driven by a strong belief in hard work, service and education. He served his country by fighting in the Army front lines of the Korean War, and upon returning home he put himself through college working as a hotel clerk. 

After obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Iowa Wesleyan College, he married Clara May and moved to sunny California where he had two daughters, Carmel and Linde, and proudly worked for the department of forestry. 

He later married Doris and had a daughter, Ella, in 1964. 

After many years of service to the department of forestry, Herman retired to Gainesville in the 1990s with his wife June. 

As an avid outdoorsman, Herman loved his time in the Ozarks, regularly enjoying fishing, paraplaning and taking care of his 13 acres of land. 

He also loved his community and served as a dedicated member of the Clarkridge Baptist Church, advocate for the Democratic party and a volunteer firefighter. 

Herman is preceded in death by three siblings (Fern, Marna and Galen) and by his loving wife June. 

He is survived by four siblings (Joyce, Cheryl, Beverly and Jake), three daughters (Carmel, Linde and Ella), six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.