Thomas F. Baker, 66, died December 8, 2013 at home with his family, under the care of Hospice Savannah. He was surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was born September 2, 1947 in Charleston, South Carolina to the late William Henry, a.k.a. Billy, Baker, and Grace Louise Wilkes of Charleston. He moved around quite a bit with the military and civilian jobs before settling into his home away from home in Savannah. He graduated from Bishop England High School and continued his education in Charleston graduating from The Citadel in 1969. He went on to receive his masters at Georgia State University. He went into the Air Force right out of The Citadel and joined the Georgia Air National Guard in 1980. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1997. He also received numerous medals and military awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with device, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Georgia Meritorious Service Medal, Georgia Commendation Medal, Georgia Achievement Medal, and the Georgia Active Duty ribbon. He had a civilian career with Southern Bell. AT&T, and Lucent Technologies. He retired from this field in September 2000 and began work as the Wing Family Program Coordinator with the 165th Airlift Wing Air National Guard. He was an active member of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist where he served as extraordinary minister, lector, usher and Chairman of the Cathedral Parish Council for several terms and was Chairman of the Cathedral Ball. He received the Bishop Francis X. Gartland Service Award in 2010. He was also inducted as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 1998. He served as a member of the Executive Committee and Chairperson of the Sgt. William Jasper Green Ceremony and was also president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick 1998-1999. He proudly served on the Board of Directors of the Rose of Sharon Apartments. He was past president of the Blessed Sacrament Home and School Association. Surviving are his wife of forty-six years, Margaret Finnegan Baker; his four daughters, Christine Baker Lynch and her husband, Duane, Kim Baker Sancomb and her friend Kavie Rutherford, Tonia Baker Parrott and her husband, Taylor, and Charity Baker and her friend, Richard Wright. He had seven grandchildren, Patrick and Mary Elizabeth Sancomb, Canyon and Carolina North, Brandy Parrott, Ciara Baker, and Cobe McFay. He is also survived by his siblings Joanne Harrison, Patrick Baker, William Baker, Jody Baker, Timothy Baker, and Michael Baker, all of Charleston, SC. He has numerous nieces and nephews and many life long friends he leaves behind. He was preceded in death by his sister, Dona Marie Baker, his brother Johnny Baker and his mother and father. The family will receive friends at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Monday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. followed by a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Interment will follow in Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests remembrances to the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation, Inc., CNGC 1000 Halsey Ave., Bldg. 447, Marietta, GA 30060. Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel Savannah Morning News December 9, 2013 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannnahnow.com/obituaries. Tags: 1969
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