James Arthur Baker, age 91, of Clemans Road, Flemington, passed away on July 7, 2018, at UHC with family by his side.
He was born on December 13, 1926, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Arthur White Baker and Carrie Irene Baker. Also preceding him in death were his wife of 67 years, Barbara, and two brothers Richard and Kenneth Baker.
Jim is survived by three daughters, Connie (Bryce) Warne of Midlothian, VA, Anita Kay (David) Booth of Flemington and Andrea Lynn Baker of Tampa, FL.
Also surviving him are grandsons James Harold Booth of Morgantown and Keegan James (Jen) Warne of Reston, VA, and sisters Sara Boles of Monrovia, MD, and Ann Courtney of Nashville, TN.
Jim graduated from Roosevelt-Wilson High School in Nutter Fort. He also served in the Navy from 1944 – 1946. He received the American Theater Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon and the WWII Victory Medal. He participated in the occupation of China and Korea and in the repatriation of the Japanese.
On January 28, 1949, Jim married the love of his life Barbara Freeland in Harrison County. They lived in Nutter Fort and Quiet Dell, where they raised their family before moving to Flemington.
Jim was employed by the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in Nutter Fort before completing his apprenticeship in the plumbing and pipefitting industry in 1965. Working for Stuart-McMunn, A & R Service and Mid-State Mechanical, among others, he was a sixty year member of the United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, Local 152 of Morgantown.
Some of Jim’s interests were boating, fishing, and hunting in WV, Ontario, Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana. He was particularly proud of his hunting trophies including a caribou, a moose, a Dall sheep, an elk, a black bear, a white-tail buck, and a mule deer buck.
He liked watching sporting events, especially the Mountaineers, the Pirates, and the New England Patriots.
He was an avid reader, especially of Westerns and was a lover of country music.
Jim held a lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association and in the Professional Hunters Association of Alaska. Jim was Baptist by faith.
Jim’s family would like to thank Sherry Sellers Country Living Personal Care Home with whom he lived for several weeks. He enjoyed their outings and Sherry’s careful and personal love. Thanks also go to UHC 5 South, Hospice, and Pastor Tommy Horne.
Private funeral arrangements were under the care of Burnside Funeral Home, Bridgeport.