Robert (Bob) Allan Baker passed away on December 22, 2021, at home in Fremont with his wife, Marilyn, and daughters, Lee Ann Dreffs and Karen Courtney by his side. He was born on October 15, 1933, in Los Angeles, to Eileen (nee Jacobson) Baker and Nicholas Baker, and was one of three siblings.
Bob was very social and service was important to him. He was awarded the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth on February 2, 2002. Touch of Gold Award was presented to him on May 10, 2008, for his outstanding service and leadership in scouting for youth with special needs and disabilities. He was Scout Master of the blind troop in Fremont. This was only one of four troops that Bob was the scoutmaster or assistant scoutmaster. He moved to the units that needed the most help. During his service in Cub Scouting, he earned the Den Leader, Webelos Den Leader and Cubmaster training awards. Bob also served as an Assistant Cubmaster. Known for his historic black powder weapons and mountain man skills, he served as Range Master at Wente Scout Reservation as the man to see for merit badges. He was there at Klondike Derby to serve hot chocolate and coffee. At Rancho Los Mochos he was the Camp Master for several years. Last and not least he was a member of the Mission Peak Scout Leader Round Table Staff.
As an interesting footnote, as President of the “Magnificent Mustache Club” he cultivated what is the largest mustache in Mission Peak since the days of another BB – Bob Buckley.
Bob was a proud member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and received the Elk of the Month and Elk of the Year awards. He also enjoyed bartending at the lodge. He volunteered at Kaiser Permanente in Fremont after retiring from Leslie Salt after 35 years of employment.
He joined the Air Force in 1952 and was stationed at Parks Air Force Base. He was awarded National Defense and Good Conduct medals and honorably discharged in 1956. He met his wife, Marilyn Anne Hendricks at a USO dance while he was serving in the Air Force, and they were married at All Saints Church in Hayward on August 4, 1957. Bob was an avid bowler, loved to dance, go deer hunting and camping, and sang in the choir at Holy Spirit Church for many years.
Bob joins his son Robert Allan, Jr., and his great-granddaughter Cassidy in heaven, and is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his daughter Lee Ann Dreffs, her husband, David Dreffs, his daughter Nancy Baker, his daughter Karen Courtney, her husband Travis Courtney, his son Jeffrey Baker, his grandchildren Sarah, Emily, Nicholas, James, Jayme, Juliet, Justin, London, Landon, and his great-grandchildren Cody and Henry.
There was a Rosary for Bob at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at Chapel of the Roses, 1940 Peralta Blvd, Fremont, and a Catholic Mass at 12:30 pm on December 29, 2021, at Holy Spirit Church, 37588 Fremont Blvd., Fremont. Burial at 2:30 pm at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 26320 Mission Blvd., Hayward. Celebration of Bob’s life followed the burial at 4:00 pm at the Fremont Elks Lodge, 38991 Farwell Dr., Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Veterans First Fly Fishing, P.O. Box 8114, Fremont, CA 94537, https://www.nccffi.org/vfff , or Fremont Elks Lodge Purple Pig Fund, https://chea-elks.org/major-project/purple-pig , or Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank, http://www.tri-cityvolunteers.org .