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Gordon Edwin BAKER (15 Apr 1925 - 29 Feb 2020)

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GordonHospiscare

£403.29 + Gift Aid of £81.25

Funeral Service

Location: Exeter & Devon Crematorium Topsham Road Exeter EX2 6EU
Date: 19th Mar 2020
Time: 12pm

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Cremation Details

Location: Exeter & Devon Crematorium Topsham Road Exeter EX2 6EU
Date: 19th Mar 2020
Time: 12pm

Funeral Reception

Location: White Horse Inn Sidmouth Road Woodbury Salterton EX5 1EP
Date: 19th Mar 2020
Time: 1pm

In loving memory of Gordon Edwin BAKER who sadly passed away on 29th February 2020 at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

Dad was born in Swindon, Wiltshire where his dad worked on the railways, but not long after moved with his three sisters Irene, Olga and Dulcie to Southall, Middlesex where he went to school and later worked nearby at Hoover, Perivale. His male ancestors lived from 1740 in the villages around Sherborne Dorset, but earlier Bakers moved in from across the border in Devon, while his mum's family was from Oxfordshire.

Dad had an early interest in aircraft and too young to join up at the outbreak of WW2 he made the exciting but daunting journey to Canada on the 'Mauritania' and training with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He qualified as an air gunner, then as a navigator he flew in Liberators in Burma supplying the ground forces behind enemy lines, and air-sea rescue. He received a commission and returned to the UK in 1946. Two years later he married Avis and in due course Derek and Pamela joined the family. He worked very hard taking on anti-social shifts to build a solid foundation for his family. His relaxation came through bowls (like his dad and grandad), stamp collecting, and fishing which took him all over the UK and Ireland. He still holds a record in Ireland.

Early retirement was well received and he and Mum moved to Devon where they enjoyed many years of great happiness before he became a widower. He stayed in the family home until the end, proud of his independence, his well maintained home, and continuing to drive to the supermarkets, bank and library.
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If you are attending the funeral Pam and Derek would like you to know that there is no expectation that people will wear black or dark clothes, please wear what you feel comfortable in, Dad would have wanted that.

Please add (as Messages) comments and anecdotes relating to Dad, as well as any pictures you may want to share with everyone that evoke wonderful memories of his life.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu in favour of Hospiscare, Exeter.

For those unable to attend the funeral, there is a live webcast available, we ask that if you require the log in details please speak to the family.

Tim&Pam Woods donated in memory of Gordon

20/03/2020

Kim Woods wrote

For at least the last 20 years Grandad has been an ever present part of our family Christmases, and Christmas really won’t be the same without him. We all have happy memories of playing cards and pencil and paper games with Grandad, and trying to convince him out of going to bed early. We normally managed. Stuart’s contribution to this is to say that ‘Gordon had a generous spirit, and was generous with his spirit measures!’ Grandad was always willing to try (and finish) my Christmas cocktail too, something that not everyone managed! Another recent happy memory is visiting him last Easter time, and his laughter in the pub playground. We will all miss Grandad very much, and are grateful to have had him as a part of all our lives. Kim, Stuart, Thomas and Jessica xxxx.

17/03/2020