Don A. Baker

\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Don A. Baker, beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather, passed to the next life on February 12, 2010. His death was peaceful. Don was born on August 23, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Otto L. and Freda Durtschi Baker. He had an excellent childhood, and grew to maturity in the Salt Lake Valley. As a youth, he developed a deep affection for science. Teenager Don enjoyed tinkering with gadgets and electronics, and built telescopes and repaired radios. He also helped with the family’s poultry and livestock. Don attended Granite High School in Salt Lake City, and earned B.S. and PhD. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah. After training in the Air Force ROTC, he was posted in 1955 to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, from where he was honorably discharged as a Captain. While at Kirtland AFB, Don was enchanted by New Mexico and chose to live here the rest of his life. He loves Sharrie Edwards more than anybody, and in 1956 married her in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Don started working at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1957. Alongside many esteemed professional colleagues at the Lab, he labored his entire career to develop peaceful uses for controlled thermonuclear fusion. Don was a loyal life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over the decades, he served in various capacities in the Los Alamos congregation of that faith. He had particularly fond memories of serving during the 1960’s as an adult advisor to Explorer Post 222, B.S.A. Still, Don’s first priority was always his family, for whom his love was unsurpassed. He spent countless hours with his wife and children in various family projects, outings, and activities. He had faith in God and Christ. Don is survived by Sharrie Baker, his bride of fifty-three years, of Los Alamos, New Mexico. His bereaved children are son Rod Baker and his wife Tamra of Cedar Crest, New Mexico; son Shane Baker and his wife Katie of Meridian, Idaho; daughter Terry Duke and her husband Dave of Scottsdale, Arizona; son Guy Baker and his wife Angie of Los Alamos, New Mexico; and daughter Kendra Dockstader and her husband J.D. of Gilbert, Arizona. Also surviving Don are his beloved siblings Doran Baker of Providence, Utah; Kay Baker of North Logan, Utah; and Karen Johnson of Boise, Idaho. He is loved by twenty-three grandchildren and one great-grandson. The family will receive visitors from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30, Friday, February 19, 2010, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1967 18th St., Los Alamos, New Mexico, with the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Guaje Pines Cemetery. The family thanks DeVargas Funeral Home. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. \r\n

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