Robert James Baker, Jr.

Robert James Baker Jr., 79, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family and in the loving arms of his wife, Sunday April 14, 2024, after a long battle with cancer.

Jim was born June 17, 1944 in Powell, Wyoming, the eldest of three children to Robert James and Martha Louise Baker. He grew up in Cody, Wyoming on 80 acres and attended Eastside grade school until the family relocated to Modesto California in 1958. Jim attended Mark Twain Junior High School, and then Modesto High School, until joining the Military and saying good bye to his brothers, William Daniel (Dan) and John K. (Jack) in 1962. Jim was stationed in Texas, Michigan and then Florida where he meet and married the love of his life Donnie Myrle Moody in 1966. They welcomed the birth of their first child, Donnie Louise, before being stationed in Japan.

After returning stateside he settled his growing family in Modesto near his parents and left for the conflict in Vietnam. Upon returning he meet his son, Robert James Baker III, and went on to live in Kansas, Missouri, and then Iowa, where he was also sent to Germany several times during the Cold War. Upon retiring from the Military in 1982 he relocated his family again to Modesto California and started driving trucks. He drove long haul and trained other drivers for many years. During that time he received “a million mile award”,

for one million safe miles traveled. No log book violations, no tickets, no accidents and no late deliveries. 

However, Dad would always say he was most proud of his family, “I must have done something right”. His eldest daughter Louise retired from teaching special education and his adopted daughter Jami teaches second grade. His son Rob and youngest daughter Danielle are registered nurses. “My children help people, they make a difference”.

Jim loved spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed seeing national monuments and visiting points of interest. He had a passion for history and was always patriotic.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Martha Baker, and survived by his wife Donnie, his brothers Dan and Jack Baker, his children Louise Krediet, Robert Baker, Jami Mullany, and Danielle Dustin, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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