Orville Baker

Orville Cantril Baker, 93, of Colorado Springs, CO, died October 14, 2015, at the Brookdale Village at Skyline, under the care of Brookdale Hospice. He had a great smile, a firm handshake, a generous spirit and he never met a stranger. He was born March 2, 1922, in Norton, KS, the eldest son of Orville Van Baker and Mae Brautigam Baker. In his youth he was involved in 4-H, played football, and was the cipher champion in his school. After graduating from high school in Almena, KS, he attended Kansas State University. With the start of WWII, he took a sabbatical from school, volunteered and trained as a pilot. He was a member of the 8th Air Force, 445th bombing group flying B-24's. He flew 35 missions over Europe. After the war, Orville continued his studies at Kansas State graduating with a B.S. Degree in Agricultural Engineering, While at college, he met and was smitten with a dark-haired beauty from Sawyer, KS, Pearl Lilliequist. They married September 12, 1948, and celebrated over 61 years together. In 1949, Orville started work with Deere and Company as a territory manager, finally retiring in 1979. Not one to give up working after retirement, he kept busy selling insurance for New York Life, and real estate for RE/MAX Capitol Properties, farming with Dick Barnes, and doing lawn care and snow removal for all his neighbors. Orville was a golfer, bridge player, and a grandpa extraordinaire. He was partial to extra dry martinis, straight up with three olives. He and Pearl loved to travel the world which included cruises, family and golfing trips, 8th Air Force reunions, but perhaps his most treasured memory was the Wyoming Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. Orville was member of the Cheyenne York Rite Masonic Temple #1, Korein Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., the Elks, the American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, Daedalians, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, Meals on Wheels, RSVP Volunteer Program, and the First United Methodist Church of Cheyenne. Orville is survived by his daughters, Paula Harris and husband, Phil, of Encampment, WY, and Carol Merrion and her husband, Rob, of Colorado Springs, CO; grandchildren, Liz Fields and her husband, Nick, and their three children of Ocala, FL, Jeff Harris and his wife, Mary of Laramie, WY, Katie Merrion of Colorado Springs, CO, and Mike Merrion of Pittsburgh, PA. Orville was preceded in death by his wife, Pearl; his parents, Orville and Mae Baker; his siblings, Henry and Kelcey Baker and Dorothy Brooks. A celebration of life will be held April 16, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with The Reverend Mark Marston officiating. A reception will follow at Allison Hall. Cremation has taken place under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.

Service

Saturday, April 16, 2016 11:00am

First United Methodist Church

108 East 18th Street

CHEYENNE, WY 82001