Frank Gene Baker, 62, a resident of The Dalles, died Feb 7, 2008, at a local care facility.

He was born in Kansas City, Mo., on May 20, 1945, the older of two children to Frank Oliver Baker, Jr. and Opal Eae (Richmond) Baker. He grew up in Napa, He entered submarine school in 1963 in Hunter's Point in San Francisco between his junior and senior years. He served in the US Navy on the USS Sperry for two years as electrician. He then served on the USS Volador for two years.

After he was out of the military for two years, he worked at a sporting goods store in San Rafael, Calif. After watching the Green Berets with John Wayne, he decided to re-enlist for six years as a senior petty officer.  As a Seabee, he built roads for 9 months in Vietnam. He then joined BattalionMCB-11 as a construction electrican.  He came home for about one year, then was assigned to the 31st Naval Construction Regiment. He was in Oxnard, Calif., for four months. His ewnlistment ran out in 1974.

He et Sandra Yvonne Leimer at a New Year's Eve party on Dec., 31, 1974 and they were married on May 10, 1975. in Virginia City, Nev. After nay service, he worked as an electrician at Mare Island Naval dry dock in Vallejo, Calif, until 1980.  He moved to The Dalles and worked as an electrician first at John Day Dam, then at The Dalles Dam, where he was promoted to electrician foreman and retired in May 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy Baker, his two daughters, Sony Baker of Oregon City, and Kimberly Deadmond.Funeral service will be held Saturday Feb. 16 at Spencer, Libby and Powell with Pastor Bob Geurrant officiating and internment to follow at IOOF 18th St. Cemetery, Dalles.