Leonard W. Baker, 85, of Perry Hill Road, Waterbury, passed away at
Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin on Saturday evening, February
21, 2009. Born in Northfield on May 18, 1923, he was the son of the
late Clarence and Bertha (Cole) Baker. On Easter Sunday, April 25,
1943, Leonard married the former Rosamae Grenier in Northfield.
Leonard attended schools in Northfield and then on May 5, 1943, was
inducted into the U.S. Army where he served with the 3rd Division, 15th
Infantry Regiment, Heavy Weapons Co. both in the Middle Eastern and
European Theatre of Operations. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was
discharged at the rank of Corporal on November 17, 1945.
Leonard worked for Central Vermont Public Service in Randolph and later
for the Northfield Cheese Processing Plant for several years before
becoming a partner in a dairy farm on Kneeland Flats in Waterbury. He
later purchased the farm and operated it for 15 years, then sold it to
Milton Ernstof and stayed on to operate it for an additional 15 years.
Leonard later was employed by Grenier Gas Co. in Waterbury for 11
years, from which he retired.
His memberships included the Cabot Creamery where he was a past
president and board member, past president and member of the Washington
County Farm Bureau, was a member and past president of the Waterbury
Rotary Club, VFW Post 10034 of Waterbury and the Harry N. Cutting
American Legion Post 59 of Waterbury. In his leisure time he enjoyed
making quilts for his children and grandchildren, painting pictures by
numbers as well as embroidery.
Leonard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Rosamae Baker of
Waterbury; their children, Evelyn Hebert of Newport, NH, Gloria Perry
of Northfield, Sharon Byrd of Duxbury, Annette Griffith of Duxbury,
Alec Baker of East Montpelier, Jeffrey Baker of Waterbury and Stuart
Baker of Waterbury Center; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren;
two sisters, Joan Buck of Northfield and Bertha Burnell of Waterbury;
three brothers, Harold Baker and Morton Baker of Northfield and Douglas
Baker of Apopka, Florida; as well as nieces, nephews and extended
family. Leonard was predeceased by three brothers, Herman, Duane and
Floyd Baker.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Andrew Catholic
Church in Waterbury on Thursday, February 26, at 11 a.m. Friends may
call at the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on Wednesday from
7 to 9 p.m. Spring interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in
Duxbury. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial
gifts would be appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice,
600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 or to the Waterbury Ambulance
Service, P.O. Box 95, Waterbury Center, VT 05677. To send online
condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
