Babe Baker

Babe Arnold Baker

Babe Arnold Baker was born October 12, 1926 in Mart, McLennan County, Texas. He was the youngest child of Press and Avor Baker

Babe was married twice. The first time was to Miss Jenny Bergeron of Eunice, Louisiana. Babe and Jenny had one child, Diana Marie

Soon after his divorce from Jenny, Babe married Miss John Etta Ivy. Babe and John Etta were married on December 30, 1944 in Crockett, Houston County, Texas.

He joined the Army on February 26, 1945 at Houston, Texas. At the time he was living at 419 2nd Street in Crockett, Texas. Babe was assigned to Co. B. 770th Railway Operating Battalion. He earned several medals while he was in the service, those were: Marksman Rifle, (in boot camp) and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation Ribbon - Japan, Victory Ribbon, and 1 Overseas Service Bar. One of his duty stations was the Philippine Islands. Babe Baker was separated from the Army August 6, 1946 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. At that time he was 5'8" tall and weighed 185 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes.

Babe and his family lived in Crockett for a while after his separation from the army. Then around 1950 they moved to Houston, Texas. These are the children of Babe and John Etta Baker: Arnold Lynn, Jimmy Ray, Jo Ann, John Presley, David Alton, Bonnye Joyce, Kenneth Woodrow, Babe Arnold, Jr.,and Tracy Neal.

Before enlisting in the army Babe was a truck driver and that was an occupation he continued for the rest of his life. He worked for many years for Roy L. Jones, Inc. as a driver and then as a truck foreman. In 1965 he was transferred to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to oversee the opening of a new truck terminal. The family lived in Zachary, Louisiana for a while and then moved to a house on Patricia Street in Baker, Louisiana.

In 1969 Babe and his wife, Johnnie sold their house and moved to a place with a little acreage near Liberty, Amite Co., Mississippi. Soon after they moved to Mississippi, Babe was diagnosed as having high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. Babe suffered several strokes. The last one left him particially paralyzed. Although he could not speak, he was still able to get around with the aid of his cane. Then on October 16, 1976, Babe passed away peacefully in his sleep. Babe is buried close to his home in Mississippi at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery

Babe Baker enjoyed fishing and playing cards. He loved to play with his children and grandchildren.

by Glenda Baker

November 1995

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