Dale H. Baker

The love of my life, Dale H. Baker has passed from this world to his forever eternal life in paradise with Our Father up above. Dale knew the Father and the Son. We had 36 plus beautiful years together and it was not enough, but I know that we will be reunited some sweet day. Dale was a USN CPO Retired Chief after 21 years in the Navy. He was known as "Ma Baker" to all his shipmates. Dale ruled the mess deck and that's how they started calling him Ma Baker and still do. Dale was always telling a funny Navy story to everybody, and the older grandkids loved to hear them. Dale never met a stranger. He was a jokester and loved to make people laugh, especially when he used his arms and hands to emphasize everything. Dale loved life like no one I have ever known. He was a true man's man and a true gentleman. He loved to play Texas Holdem and sing Karaoke. Dale was an avid K.C. Chiefs fan and spent the last year playing pool in three different leagues a week. He met people through that that he loved to meet up with every week. Dale had a 1951 Chevy pickup truck he took on parades and car shows, and he loved to ride his Harley.

Dale was born in Topeka, Kansas on June 28, 1950. He joined the Navy at age 18 and spent a tour in Vietnam. He became a cook in the Navy in the early years on board ship. He served on the USS Deyo, the USS Blakely and the USS Santa Barbara. He was mostly an East Coast sailor serving out of Charleston, NC. He has ported in 21 different countries. When he became Chief, he "pushed boots" in San Diego, CA and became a Company Commander. When Dale retired he managed and ran the Company Hotel Barracks in San Diego.

Dale passed at home so peacefully on March 16, 2024. All day he had been surrounded by his much loved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dale leaves behind his wife, Donna and seven children, Amy Griffin, Dale Griffin, Lori Higgins, Luke Berends, William Baker (Sarah), Samantha Summers and Kady Baker, 20 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, two sisters, Alma Langeggar and Robin Baker, many nieces and nephews, special cousins and his special Aunt Barb. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Dale Baker, Sr. and Alice Baker.

Dale will be missed by all who loved him. He was such an impact on all who met him. In the years we had together he always said Hi baby when he saw me and always called me Donna Ruth. He never argued with me or anyone. He stuck by me through thick and thin and never failed to show his love for me and all our family. And with that, from our son, William who was also in the Navy:
Goodbye Chief, the best man I ever knew. I love you Old Man. Fair the winds and following seas Dad. Until we see each other again!

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Parker-Price & Davidson Funeral Home, 245 NW Independence Ave., Topeka, KS. Burial will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery, Topeka. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service.

To share a memory of Dale or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.