After 88 wonderful years, Bill Bryan Baker, Sr. passed away July 12, 2022 at home with family. On a small farm in Cookeville, Tennessee, Mr. Baker was born to John Stewart Baker and Alta Catherine Helton Baker, the youngest of their six children. Mr. Baker graduated from Central High School in Cookeville and joined the United States Navy as an aviation engineer with VW-1, an early warning radar aircraft, stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He flew with the squadron through the Pacific during the Korean Conflict. During this time he met Marian Ann Chistakoff Baker, a Navy WAVE telegrapher from Pennsylvania stationed on the base at Barber's Point. They were married from 1955 until her death in October 2004. After 6 and 7 years of Navy service, respectively, they settled in Tennessee and moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1958 to raise their family and for Mr. Baker to take a job with Chrysler. He later worked as a NASA contractor with Ampex Corp. and eventually Boeing Corp. After a fruitful career, Mr. Baker retired from Boeing to spend time with Marian, cheer on the Braves, fish from their beloved place at Smith Lake, and most enjoyably, entertain their grandchildren Lindsey, Allison and John. He was a man admired for his friendly, outgoing nature and always being able to make people feel at ease. His family would often find him in cheerful conversation with a new friend, whether talking fishing, s pacecraft communications, or how good it was to see the Braves finally win another World Series.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marian, his parents, brothers and sisters (John Jr., Donald, Helen, Ruth and Peggy), and mother-in-law Sally Chistakoff.

He is survived by his son Bill Bryan Baker, Jr. (Annette), his daughter Peggy Baker-Herren, and grandchildren Lindsey O'Connell (Ryan), Allison Ferrell (Chip), and John Baker. Great grandchildren are Jane Carter O'Connell and Margaret Catherine Ferrell.

Private family visitation will be held Monday July 18, 2022 at 11:30 AM at Berryhill Funeral Home followed by a graveside service at at Valhalla Cemetery at 1:00 PM, presided by Pastor Tim Cole.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in his name to a Veterans organization or to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. The family thanks Enhabit Hospice Services for their care during his illness.